DATE: 3 October 2021
TIME: 15:00–17:00 CEST

The Global Campaign to Combat Ageism organised the first international screening of the documentary film ‘Duty Free’, which took place on 3 October 2021 from 15:00–17:00 CEST. The film tells the story of Rebecca Danigelis, a 75-year old woman who gets fired without cause from her lifelong job as a hotel housekeeper. The documentary not only gives visibility to the issue of ageism against older people in the labour market but also exposes the economic insecurity that ensues and shapes the future of many older people worldwide.

This international premiere was opened by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The premiere was followed by a panel debate with Rebecca Danigelis, her son and film Director Sian-Pierre Regis, and ILO Deputy Director-General Martha E. Newton. This debate offered an opportunity to discuss how ageism in the labour market affects people across countries, and to elaborate on the strategies that can be put in place to reduce or prevent it.   

This event is part of the initiative Ageism through the ages that the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism is running from 1 October (International Day of Older Persons) to 20 November 2021 (World Children’s Day) to give focused attention to ageism as it affects different age groups.

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This international screening took place online and was live captioned into all UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish).