A/HRC/41/32 34. The Government of Austria hosted an international conference on the human rights of older persons in Vienna on 12 and 13 November 2018, with the support of OHCHR and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which focused on future challenges and opportunities for older persons and the enjoyment of their human rights and how that enjoyment could be facilitated by technological developments, such as robotics, automation and digitalization. A declaration on the human rights of older persons (the Vienna Declaration) was adopted at the conference, in which participants acknowledged the need for measures to better utilize technological progress and ensure that older persons have access to suitable education and training. The Declaration was subsequently submitted to the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing at its tenth session, held in April 2019. 7 35. A number of United Nations organizations are increasingly focusing on the role of new technologies in relation to older persons. ESCAP, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, has launched a project to identify workable and effective methods to promote and enhance the accessibility of health care and long-term care for older persons and equality in the provision thereof, and to ensure the dissemination of such knowledge and practices in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP is developing studies in selected countries in the region that have an information and communications technology environment that could support health-care services for older persons. Findings, good practices and lessons learned from those studies will be shared with other countries in the region. 36. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been exploring the concept of smart sustainable cities since 2013. Social inclusion and creating an information society form an important part of the smart sustainable city transition process, wherein all strata of society, regardless of gender, income and age, have access to basic services and information and communications technologies for urban living. Within smart sustainable cities, intelligent sustainable buildings are equipped with efficient technologies, including sensors, patient monitors and cameras, to cater to the ageing population and ensure that they receive adequate health-care services along with the required protection from abuses and unwarranted events. As an organization that develops international standards, ITU, through its Telecommunication Standardization Sector, has developed a comprehensive list of key performance indicators for the transition to smart sustainable cities, together with 15 other United Nations agencies and programmes, under the United for Smart Sustainable Cities initiative. Over 50 cities worldwide are already implementing those indicators to improve urban functionalities and quality of life and ensure environmental, economic and social sustainability. F. Access to information and lifelong learning 37. Older persons face multiple challenges with regard to their enjoyment of all levels of quality education, training, lifelong learning and capacity-building services. Ageing often intersects with other forms of vulnerability and social exclusion, such as illness, disability and poverty. Older persons may face physical barriers to learning owing to location, transportation and accessibility and often lack the skills needed to benefit fully from digital and online lifelong learning opportunities. 38. Sustainable Development Goal 4 sets out the commitments of Member States to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Lifelong learning is an integral part of the right to fundamental education under article 13, paragraph 2 (d), of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.8 In its general comment No. 6, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that older persons should have access to suitable education programmes and training throughout their lives. 39. In its 2015 Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) calls upon Member States to 7 8 10 The Declaration and other information are available at www.ageing.at. See paragraphs 22 to 24 of general comment No. 13 (1999) on the right to education of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/2000/22-E/C.12/1999/11, annex VI).