Towards a society for all ages: building solidarity and equity across generations

Joint Regional Commissions Side Event during the Summit of the Future Action Days

Drawing upon their ongoing work and networks in the regions, the Regional Commissions are organizing the joint side event with the Government of Chile to position in global policy discussion the topic of intergenerational solidarity through the equity lens, considering the state-of-the-art evidence, showcasing concrete examples towards building social cohesion and highlighting recommendations to carry forward the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations.

Objective of the side event

The side event  Towards a society for all ages: building solidarity and equity across generations during the Summit of the Future Action Days will, under the broad umbrella of intergenerational solidarity and equity, will draw on the insights and recommendations from the Regional Commissions’ joint policy brief on this topic to be distributed at the event, focus on cutting edge policy thinking on the impact of current demographic trends, including on population ageing, labour market, quality of employment, and access to social protection, care policies and services. Beyond social policies, the side event will also look at how choices policymakers and societies are making today on the green transition, and on tackling the triple planetary crisis, will affect future generations. With a particular focus on intergenerational fairness, the side event will have a forward-looking focus on voluntary commitments, concrete actions and partnerships needed to deliver on the Pact for the Future.

Specifically, the side event will seek to:
• Explore the social, economic and financial challenges and opportunities for equity and solidarity that demographic shifts pose for multigenerational societies, including for those unborn generations that do not have a voice yet.
• Discuss the latest evidence and showcase good practices and policy proposals around intergenerational solidarity and equity from across the regions, including those related to the care economy.
• Explore opportunities offered by strategic foresight, science and data capabilities for long-term thinking and strategies, and identify institutional mechanisms through which society can ensure that inter-generational inequities are regularly addressed in light of changing contexts.
• Unpack ways of carrying forward solutions contained in the Chapters of the Pact for the Future and contribute to the preparatory process for the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025.

With due recognition of the duties to collectively shape a brighter and fairer present and future for all generations, including those yet to be born, the side event will apply a human rights and gender equality lens in tackling current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon.