OEA - CP- Resolución CP INF 10941

OEA/Ser.G CP/INF. 10941/26 13 May 2026

Original: English

NOTE FROM THE PERMANENT MISSIONS OF CANADA, BRAZIL, CHILE, COLOMBIA, MEXICO, AND URUGUAY, REQUESTING THE INCLUSION OF THE ITEM “WOMEN, AGING, AND EMPOWERMENT ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE” ON THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL SCHEDULED FOR MAY 20, 2026

(Concept note attached)

PERMANENT COUNCIL3CONCEPT NOTE

“WOMEN, AGING AND EMPOWERMENT ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE”

(Regular meeting of the Permanent Council scheduled for May 20, 2026)

Objective:

Raise awareness of women’s comprehensive health across the life course as a cross-cutting issue, and to encourage Member States to consider integrated policy approaches that advance human rights, development, and social inclusion within the inter-American agenda.

Background:

The Americas region is undergoing a rapid demographic transition characterized by population aging and the feminization of older age. While women live longer than men, they experience poorer health outcomes across a greater proportion of their lives, spend ing an estimated 25% more of their lifespan in poor health. This disparity reflects higher levels of functional dependence and chronic disease, compounded by structural inequities such as lower access to social protection and pensions, and cumulative disad vantages arising from persistent gaps in education, employment, and the unequal distribution of unpaid care work.

From a life course perspective, each stage of life requires specific interventions to promote optimal health, social well-being and economic inclusion. Therefore, while recognizing the importance of care and support during the reproductive years, we must also address existing gaps across

distribution of unpaid care work.

From a life course perspective, each stage of life requires specific interventions to promote optimal health, social well-being and economic inclusion. Therefore, while recognizing the importance of care and support during the reproductive years, we must also address existing gaps across other stages of life. These challenges are particularly evident during critical transitions such as perimenopause and menopause, which significantly influence women’s healthy life expectancy and long-term health trajectories. If left unaddressed, these transitions can lead to negative outcomes that persist into older age.

This transition period may extend over a decade and affect more than 450 million women globally at any given time. When insufficiently addressed, menopausal symptoms and their long -term consequences increase the risk of major noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders (such as dementia), osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and gynecological conditions. They are also associated with increasing risk of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. The associated burden is substantial, accounting for an estimated 2.4 million disability -adjusted life years (DALYs) and USD 120 billion in annual GDP losses, underscoring the economic, social and health system implications of inaction.

Beyond the clinical dimensions, these life changes also carry profound social and cultural implications. Women’s experiences are shaped by societal norms, expectations, and stigma surrounding aging and reproductive changes. Limited understanding and awareness of menopause can hinder women’s ability to recognize and adapt to these transitions, while lack of acknowledgment from families, workplaces, and communities can exacerbate feelings of isolation or inadequacy. These intersecting challenges extend beyond well-being, with direct implications for women’s social engagement, with accumulated inequities across the life course shaping women’s access to and continuity in leadership and continuity in leadership and decision-making roles.- 4The intersection of ageism and sexism combined with factors such as disability, Indigenous or Afrodescendant identity, or migrant status, often compounds these challenges, as women may face

inequities across the life course shaping women’s access to and continuity in leadership and continuity in leadership and decision-making roles.- 4The intersection of ageism and sexism combined with factors such as disability, Indigenous or Afrodescendant identity, or migrant status, often compounds these challenges, as women may face discrimination or marginalization both for aging and for gender -related stereotypes that devalue this stage of life. Promoting societal acceptance, providing education, and fostering supportive environments are essential for empowering women to navigate menopause with dignity and resilience, ultimately enhancing well-being and quality of life beyond physical health. Advancing a comprehensive, life -course approach —one that integrates physical, mental, and social well -being; strengthens primary health care and referral networks; and ensures women’s autonomy, rights, and protection—will be critical to achieving these outcomes and ensuring that no woman, at any stage of life, is left behind.

Draft Agenda:

1. Opening remarks by the Chair of the Permanent Council

2. Panel Discussion

a. Pan-American Health Organization b. Inter-American Commission of Women c. O’Neill Institute – Georgetown University

3. Interventions by Member States