Event highlights
In the lead-up to the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC75), the WHO Regional Office for Europe convened a dedicated dialogue with non-State actors (NSAs) to engage civil society, nongovernmental organizations, foundations and academic and professional networks on the development of the forthcoming WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-being (2026–2030).
Held at UN City in Copenhagen, this pre-RC75 session marked a key opportunity to ensure that diverse perspectives and lived experiences feed into the next phase of the strategy – just ahead of the Regional Committee’s agenda item on progress in its development.
Bringing together partners in official relations with WHO/Europe, the strategy-focused session created space for honest exchanges and practical ideas on what implementation should look like in communities across Europe.
“This strategy must speak to people’s lived experiences and that is why this dialogue matters,” said Dr Yongjie Yon, Technical Officer for Ageing and Health at WHO/Europe. “Our partners bring vital perspectives from communities, research and advocacy. They keep us focused on what works and for whom.”
Participants shared promising examples ranging from inclusive care models and digital outreach to efforts addressing social isolation and supporting caregivers. Their contributions will directly inform the proposed actions and implementation tools under development.
“This dialogue reflects our commitment to keep older persons’ voices central to health and care transformation,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of the Division of Health Systems. “The path to implementation must be inclusive, grounded and accountable.”
By engaging a broad spectrum of NSAs, WHO/Europe reaffirmed that advancing healthy ageing requires shared ownership – not only by institutions, but also the communities they serve. The Strategy on Ageing is Living is scheduled for adoption at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2026.