Our ESU was welcomed in Cyprus
Cyprus
the ESU president and secretary general were invited to cyprus for talks on the occasion of the UNIDOP, digitalisation and much more
For ESU too, 2020 was an unforeseen year, our annual report gives an overview of how we learned from this abnormal year and how we tried to overcome the obstacles. We are pleased to present the annual report at our ESU executive meeting on 23 March 2021.
In Prague (5-7 March 2020), we organised our first meeting in 2020 for the members of the Presidium and the Executive Committee. It became a meeting to remember. Not because of the programme, which went smoothly; not because of the atmosphere among the participants, as there was a sense of strong connection; but as the days and hours progressed, the reports of the spread of the ‘COVID-19 Virus’ became more alarming. From then on, in mid-March, our ESU activities were marked by the far-reaching spread of the pandemic and the associated measures.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to humanity and was a disproportionate threat to the health, life, rights and well-being of the older generation. It concerned all and every one of us. It confronted us with how our society perceives the needs and human rights of the ageing population, how our society perceives age and ageing. ESU stressed that we want the recovery from COVID-19 in Europe to be an opportunity to pave the way for a more inclusive, just and age-friendly society, based on democracy, the rule of law and the inalienable respect for human dignity.
At the end of 2020, the year in which the ESU planned to celebrate its 25th anniversary, we were grateful to those who have built the ESU. We thank you and all partners within the ESU network for your active commitment to the well-being of our fellow citizens and your cooperation in our association.
How did we experience this strange period? How did we maintain and strengthen contacts between our member associations? How have we given voice to the questions, needs and hopes of senior citizens during this strange period?
Please read it in our Annual Report:
2020: An unprecedented year