World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
The United Nations General
Assembly, in its resolution 66/127, designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day. It represents the one day in the year when the whole world
voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older
generations.
Virtually
all countries are expected to see substantial growth in the number of older
persons between 2015 and 2030, and that growth will be faster in developing
regions. Because the numbers of older persons are growing, the amount of elder
abuse can be expected to grow with it. While the taboo topic of elder abuse has
started to gain visibility across the world, it remains one of the least
investigated types of violence in national surveys, and one of the least
addressed in national action plans.
Elder abuse
is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions
of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of
the international community.
“Understand
and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue”
The 2017
theme underscores the importance of preventing financial exploitation in the
context of elder abuse to the enjoyment of older persons’ human rights. In
line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Madrid International
Plan of Action on Ageing, older people have the right to a life of dignity in
old age, free of all forms of abuse, including financial and material
exploitation, which could lead to poverty, hunger, homelessness, compromised
health and well-being, and even premature mortality.
0 comments