An Historic Leap Ahead for the Rights of Older People
 

Half the year has flown by — fast-paced, full, and deeply impactful. We’ve traveled to London, Japan, Latvia, and Brussels (twice), hosted and attended webinars across the globe, celebrated the major step towards a UN convention on the Rights of Older People at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March, and participated in the powerful Flip the Script campaign led by Janine VandenBerg during Older Americans Month. 

Conversations around longevity are intensifying. With declining birth rates and shrinking work forces, the need for multigenerational collaboration and age-inclusive work environments is more urgent than ever.

Within our Pass It On Network community, we are mourning the loss of our beloved co-founder, Dr. Jan Hively. Her mantra — “meaningful work, paid or unpaid, through the last breath” — remains our guiding light.

The outpouring of tributes has been moving. We are humbled to have worked beside her. Inspired by Jan’s legacy, Dr. Jane Barrett reflects on what we owe the giants who came before us in her piece, Standing on Their Shoulders.

Pass-It-On-Networking:

Connect & Reconnect

Monday, 14 July

1pm EDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST / 8pm EAT

Check your time zone here

Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach.

Americas, Europe, Africa
Tuesday, 15 July
 1pm EDT / 6pm BST 
 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST

Asia, Australasia
Wednesday, 16 July
7am CEST / 6am BST  
1pm SGT / 4pm AEDT 

Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here.

Jeff Rubin, PIONeer at the SGA
Steps In at the UN’s Stakeholder Group on Ageing

Jeff Rubin, a longtime PIONeer from Kentucky, is now representing the Pass It On Network at the United Nations’ Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA) — a role held with great dedication for many years by our late co-founder, Dr. Jan Hively.

The SGA, established in 2013, brings together global and national organizations focused on ageing to ensure older persons have a voice in shaping sustainable development. The group played a key role in the lead-up to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1) and continues to work toward embedding ageing issues across all 17 goals.

Jeff brings energy and commitment to the role, actively writing, hosting conversations, advocating, and speaking to build a society for all ages. His presence ensures that ageing remains visible and valued in global policy discussions.

The Elders In Our Midst by Margaret Young
 

The Elders in Our Midst project honors older adults across British Columbia and Canada who are taking meaningful action on climate change. Through youth-led interviews and Joy Hanser’s hand-painted portraits, the project celebrates their contributions and inspires intergenerational, community-driven climate solutions.

Among those featured is Margaret, who says, “A good day is a step forward.” A member of the Pass It On Network’s delegation to the UN in 2019, Margaret went on to serve as Chair of GAROP (Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People) and, in 2024, was elected to a two-year term as Ex Officio. Read e-book here.

Margaret Young, past chair of GAROP (Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People)

Why a Convention Matters: Spotlight on Albania

Emira Pirdeni, of the Albanian Society for All Ages, was among the many voices raised in support of a convention at the April meeting of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. 
 

Older persons in Albania face unique challenges in accessing social protection and social security — challenges that are not adequately addressed by current international human rights frameworks.

A dedicated UN convention on the rights of older persons is urgently needed. 

Such a convention would: 

• Build on existing human rights standards, tailored to the realities of older age;
• Clarify states’ obligations to ensure access that is available, accessible, adequate, and acceptable on an equal basis with others;
• Uphold the autonomy and independence of older persons in all matters related to social protection.

Albania is just one example of why we must push for stronger international protections — to ensure dignity, equity, and inclusion at every age.

Strong Mobilization across Africa for Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025 by PIONeers and a Large Spectrum of NGOs

From South African Zimbabwe, Botsawa up through Africa to Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia …  Let Us Protect Our Elders.

One example: On 20 June 2025, Prof. Magen Mutepfa (Co-Founder of Ageless Inspirations, Liaison Officer for PION, and Chair of CommonAge Botswana) and Prof. Rebecca Lekoko (Co-Founder of Ageless Inspirations and U3A Botswana) hosted a national webinar to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The event featured expert panellists, including Dr O. Batisi (Gerontologist, Ministry of Health), Dr Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza-neuropsychologist), Lt Col Xloliswa Maseko, Prof. Tsayang, and youth from Ageless Inspirations (Amantle Ntsiripana, Rehana Ramaselwana, Sneha Phurrakati, and Buzwani Mpala). 

The Stakeholders Group on Ageing - Africa held a webinar on 30 June to report on the multiple country contributions. Read the report here.

Revolutionize Your Retirement  

PIONeer Helen Hirsch Spence, 
the CEO/Founder of www.TopSixtyOverSixty.com, will be Dori Mintzer’s Revolutionize your Retirement guest on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 12:00 EDT (11:00 CDT, 10:00 MT, 9:00 PT, 18:00 CET). She will focus on why we must reframe the ageing narrative and prioritize "longevity literacy," as well as confront ageism. Helen is a well-respected and sought after TedX speaker, thought leader, writer, and age provocateur. Sign-up for the interview at www.revolutionizeretirement.com. Participants will receive a recording link after the call. It is an "audio only" call, and questions and comments can be made via the internet. 
Direct questions to Dori Mintzer, dorianmintzer@gmail.com.  

8 Key Lessons for Meaningful Intergenerational Collaboration

Over 18 months, OLD’UP (France) partnered with the European Youth Forum on ME-ET: Mobilizing Europe – Engaging Together, a European Union–funded project involving thousands of young people from 15 countries. At the AGM of Age Platform, Moira Allan shared what was learned from this intergenerational collaboration:

1. Shared Purpose – Age fades when people unite around a common goal.
2. Complexity Requires Diversity – Today’s challenges demand cross-generational thinking and joint action.
3. Curiosity Sparks Innovation – Interest leads to exchange; exchange fuels unexpected, exponential results.
4. Communication Is Key – Open, honest, lateral dialogue builds stronger relationships.
5. Community Matters – Trust, belonging, and mutual care transcend age.
6. True Collaboration – Listen deeply, challenge assumptions, co-create bold solutions.
7. Consistency & Reliability – These values earn respect and ensure progress.
8. Reciprocity Is Essential – Real collaboration means giving and receiving equally.

The Science is In: Biological Age Reversal Works
Metatrend #4: Longevity, Medicine & Biotechnology

In his latest newsletter Peter Diamandes, who describes himself as a data-driven optimist inspiring entrepreneurs through research, investment & community to create an abundant future for humanity, reports that the age reversal breakthrough we've all been waiting for will soon be here, faster than he ever imagined. Dr. David Sinclair's lab (Harvard) has cracked the code on epigenetic reprogramming, potentially moving from $400,000 gene therapies to $100 pills that can reset biological age by 50 - 95% in just four weeks. What started as theory in 2017 became the proven science of epigenetic reprogramming in 2020, and now AI is accelerating development at unprecedented speed. As Sinclair puts it: "Imagine in 10 years you just take a pill three times per week for a month and you get younger." Listen to his discussion with Dr Sinclaire here.

ISO Normes – for Smart Multigenerational Neighborhoods 

Green light flashed in favor of expanding ISO 25553 - the international standard for Smart Multi-generational Neighborhoods at the ISO - International Organization for Standardization in Seoul in June.
 

One of the prime movers, Ian Spiro, Founder Agile Ageing Alliance and Honorary Professor at UCL Bartlett School for Sustainable Construction, reported on a major step forward.

Part 1: Technical Requirements (DIS) – Complete
Part 2: Practical Guidance and Use Cases – Approved
Part 3: Evaluation and Best Practice Framework – Approved

What began as an idea to shift how we live, age, and care for one another, is becoming a global framework with tools, case studies, and metrics to back it up, he said.

We’ve gone from re-imagining our neighborhoods of the future to building the standard that will help make them real anchored in co-creation, digital equity, and human-centered design.

Now the real work begins.
Parts 2 and 3 are open for collaboration. We’re looking for use cases, evaluation partners, ethical AI experts, and forward-thinking organizations ready to turn potential into progress.

Reach out to Ian here.

So strong is the demand for reliable tech information that our friends at the Australian Seniors Computers Clubs Association are creating an additional eNewsletter specifically focused on technology and its impact on Australian seniors. 

Professor Takeo Ogawa Honored with Sacred Treasure Award

Professor Takeo Ogawa of Fukuoka, Japan, has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to society. His commitment began during his student years when he led the Japan Student South America Field Study Group, which was commissioned to explore issues of migration and settlement in Brazil. This early focus on population dynamics would become a central theme throughout his career.

Professor Ogawa's extensive work addressed Japan’s rural depopulation and the challenges of an aging society. His official citation references 11 key areas of influence on government policy, including his Theory of Population Outflow and the Problem of Depopulation and Aging in Rural Society, which inspired initiatives such as “village development by the elderly,” “urban-rural exchange,” and “trusted residents” (hometown tax). His contributions also include:

• Founding the Lifelong Active Society Development Society
• Launching a project with Nippon Kogyo to revitalize aging rural villages
• Developing a comprehensive regional care system and promoting regional coexistence
• Facilitating international collaboration through the WHO Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Network with the Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific
• Supporting the World Bank’s Age-Ready Cities initiative via Fukuoka City’s Healthy Advanced City Initiative (Fukuoka 100).

Professor Ogawa’s legacy exemplifies the integration of academic insight with practical policy-making to address demographic change and promote active ageing.  See citation here. 

Pedaling through Midlife on a bicycle built for two Szifra Birke & Jay Livingston

Podcast with Dori Mintzer's Revolutionize Your Retirement!

Leaving middle age and approaching retirement is often portrayed as a time to settle into comfortable patterns and perhaps explore grand adventures. The common view suggests that after you've spent a lifetime building satisfying relationships, now there's time to sit back and enjoy them, to lean into the habits you enjoy, to stop working so hard at everyday things. Listen here.  

“Thoroughly unprepared, we take the step into the afternoon of life. Worse still, we take this step with the false presupposition that our truths and our ideals will serve us as hitherto. But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning, for what was great in the morning will be little at evening and what in the morning was true, at evening will have become a lie.” – Carl Jung 

Standford’s New Map of Life 

View here.

Ageing Well in the Commonwealth
A roadway for healthy ageing across the life course
 

Currently, 60% of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are under the age of 30. But by 2050, the age profile will have shifted dramatically — the population will be much older. The Commonwealth has decided that the time to act is now.

Explore the ‘roadmap’ of suggested objectives and key actions for policy-makers developing national policies on healthy ageing. We particularly appreciated the indicators of progress (see page 34). Download the report here.

WHO and the Life Course

The WHO Framework to implement a life course approach in practice summarizes current evidence to reorient health systems to produce health and well-being, draws on global examples of implementation, and proposes next steps. It strengthens equity by recognizing how critical periods, transitions and cumulative exposures shape health trajectories. This framework targets governments, civil society, and other non-state actors committed to applying a life course approach. Available here.

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10-12 September 2025
IFA’s 17^th Conference 

Cape Town, South Africa, is the IFA’s choice for its 17^th Conference on with a pre-conference event on 9 September. A variety of themes from Connecting Ageing and the Economy, Building Capacity in Low/Middle Income Communities to Improving Practice through Digital Technologies, and Human Rights (Ageism / Abuse). 
Register here.

29-30 September 2025 

National Virtual Village Gathering 

This is an ONLINE-ONLY ZOOM EVENT designed to share knowledge  around the theme of Empowering the Future: Celebrating 25 years of the Village Movement. Register here.

8-12 October 2025

EURAG in Paris

Bi-annual meeting of the oldest European federation by and for older people. Theme: How to improve the daily life of older people 

13-15 October 2025

International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) conference, Anaheim, CA

The conference is for professionals not older consumers.

https://icaaconference.icaa.cc/call_for_presentation.php 

20-21 October 2025 - Cannes, France

Cannes, France - 18th edition of the SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival 
Applications open participation, awards, and speaker opportunities. Learn more.