The digital Era? Also my era! Media and Information Literacy: a key to ensure seniors’ rights to participate in the digital era

Some months ago, An Hermans, was invited by the Council of Europe to compile an informative brochure on the subject of digital literacy within the senior generation. It has now been launched and we would like to inform you of the past events at which our president was a guest to present her brochure to various authorities at different levels.

28.06.2022: Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

On 28 June 2022, the presentation to the Report ‘The digital Era? Also my era!’ (Council of Europe, Information Society Department, DGI, 2020, 03) was on the agenda of the thematic coordinators for information policy of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (TC Information Policy Coordinators (TC-INF). On this occasion, ESU President An Hermans, author of the report, and ESU Secretary-General Guido Dumon were invited to attend the meeting. They felt honored to meet Mrs. Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The presentation of the report and the exchange of views took place under the chairmanship of Ambassador Rasmus Lumi, Thematic Coordinator for Information Policy (TC- INF).  

 At the Committee of Ministers (TC-INF), An Hermans presented the new publication “Media and information literacy: a key to ensure older persons’ rights to participate in the digital era” and participated in an exchange of views with delegations. In a brief introduction, she addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for the increase in online communication and the need for media and information literacy (MIL); the potential of digital literacy, inspiring practices across Europe and the global fight against ageism; finally, I made some connections between the topics of the report and the broader political context, especially what I consider to be a unique role for the Council of Europe in this regard. See: The Committee of Ministers discuses digital literacy for seniors – News (coe.int). Some comments and considerations as follow up can be read here.

17.06.2022: UNECE Ministerial Conference

On behalf of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe, An Hermans also attended  as ‘Council of Europe expert for Media and Information Literacy and Seniors’ the UNECE Ministerial Conference on ageing completing the fourth review and appraisal cycle (2018-2022) and marking the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and its Regional Implementation Strategy (MIPAA/RIS). The UNECE Ministerial Conference on ageing (MIPAA+20 ) took place in Rome 16- 17 June 2022,  A UNECE joint Forum of Civil Society and Scientific Research on 15 June 2022, preceded the Ministerial Conference.

Some comments and considerations as follow up can be read here.

If you want to use the text in your organisation, you can find the brochure here:

In English: The digital era? Also my era! – Media and information literacy: a key to ensure seniors’ rights to participate in the digital era 

In French: L’ère du numérique? C’est aussi mon époque! – L’éducation aux médias et à l’information: une clé pour garantir le droit des personnes âgées à participer à l’ère numérique 

In German: Das Digitale Zeitalter? Auch Ich Gehöre Dazu! Medien- und Informationskompetenz: der Schlüssel zur Gewährleistung der Rechte Älterer auf Teilhabe im digitalen Zeitalter

In Polish: ERA CYFROWA? TO TAKŻE MOJA ERA! Umiejętność korzystania z mediów i informacji: klucz do zapewnienia seniorom prawa do aktywnego uczestnictwa w erze cyfrowej

In Czech: DIGITÁLNÍ ÉRA? I JÁ JSEM JEJÍ SOUČÁSTÍ! Mediální a informační gramotnost: klíč k zajištění práva seniorů podílet se na dění v digitální éře

In Ukrainian: ЦИФРОВА ЕПОХА? ВОНА І МОЯ ТЕЖ! Медійна та інформаційна грамотність: ключ до забезпечення прав людей старшого віку на участь у цифровій епосі