Context
October 31 marks World Cities Day, under the slogan “People-centered smart cities,” which seeks to show how data-driven decision-making, technology, and artificial intelligence can be used to improve urban life and recover from current crises. The celebration of this Day also aims to promote local initiatives. This virtual seminar is organized by the departments of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity and Health Systems and Services of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Topics
Observing this name day is an ideal opportunity to highlight how local governments apply innovative approaches to local management, social participation, and the use of evidence to strengthen well-being, equity, and resilience in their communities. The commemoration comes shortly after the VIII Meeting of Mayors for Healthy Municipalities, offering an opportunity to highlight the commitments and results achieved by the Regional Movement of Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities (MCCS), and after the Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, another PAHO initiative, surpassed 1,000 registered municipalities.
Objectives
To highlight the leadership of cities and municipalities in social innovation for the construction of healthy, people-centered cities, articulating the regional agenda of the MCCS Movement and the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities with the United Nations global campaign for this World Day.
Participation
- DATE: Friday, October 31, 2025
- LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, Portuguese
- TIME: 10:00 - 11:00am (ET, Washington)
- PLATFORM: ZOOM (with registration)
Agenda
Topic
Welcome
Gerry Eijkemans. Director, Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, PAHO
Lautaro Lorenzo, executive secretary of Mercociudades
Movement of Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities (MCCS)
German Ricardo Camacho Herrera. President of the Executive Committee of the MCCS Movement and Mayor of Paipa, Colombia
Panel on urban experiences: Social innovation for health and well-being in the Americas
Mariela Couto. Technical advisor to the Permanent Secretariat of Mercociudades
Cesar Augusto Rincón Zuluaga. Secretary of Health, Armenia, Quindio, Colombia
Denis Cezar Musial. Secretary of Social Services and Human Rights, Iratí, Paraná, Brazil, and Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities
Raquel Antuñez Marañón. President of the National Coordination of Indigenous and Peasant Autonomies, Bolivia
Moderate: Fernanda Lanzagorta Cerecer. International consultant on local governance for health and well-being, PAHO
Closing
PAHO (TBC)