We are very sad to hear of the passing away of Ambassador Julia Tavares de Alvarez. Her dedication to campaigning and championing, for over 40 years, the cause of older women and men has been inspirational for all those who had the fortune to be in contact with her.

HelpAge International received the prestigious 2012 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on 16 April in Washington. The award was given by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation at a special ceremony at the Global Philanthropy Forum's 11th annual conference in Washington.

Older people across the world will come together this week to mark World Health Day on 7 April. As part of our global campaign, Age Demands Action on Health, they will call on their governments to address the health challenges of an ageing world.

A new paper by The World Economic Forum advocates “a new social contract based on a new economic model, which places equal emphasis on growth, employment and social protection”.

A crisis is affecting the Sahel region of West Africa. Up to 12 million people in Mauritania, Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso are affected.