World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: History, Objective, Theme

4to40.com June 15, 2024 Public Awareness 273 Views

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed every year on June 15 to raise voices for elders who are abused and victimized. The theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024 is “Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies“.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: 15 June

As the population and longevity of older people is increasing, elder abuse is also becoming a serious problem these days.

It not only affects the health, human rights of elders but also causes death. Hence, it is important to raise awareness about preventing it whenever and wherever necessary.

What is Elder Abuse?

All over the world, we can see elder abuse and it is a very common problem that elders face in their lives. Elder abuse can be seen in many forms like physical, emotional, sexual, financial and neglect. How can we forget that elders are also human beings, they also deserve dignity and respect just like people of other age groups? Elders are also like parents and are someone’s parents. Because of them we came into the world and when they needed us, we left them. We have to understand the main reason and cause of the problem and solve it instead of abandoning the elders.

Types of Elderly Mistreatment:

Elder abuse could be a “single or recurring act, or a lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, causing injury or distress to an older person.” This global social issue impacts the health and human rights of older people, necessitating global attention.

There are five types of elderly mistreatment which the researchers and legal statutes recognise:

Physical abuse: acts carried out intending for physical pain or injury.
Psychological abuse: acts causing emotional pain or injury.
Material exploitation: Misappropriation of the elder’s money or property.
Neglect: Failure to meet the needs of the older person.
Sexual assaults

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: History

The day was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011 by passing UN resolution 66/127 following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). According to the United Nations, approximately 1 in 6 older people experience some form of abuse. This is predicted to increase as populations age worldwide. There is no doubt that elder abuse can cause serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. It is a global social issue that affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world.

Estimates suggest that the global population of people aged 60 years and above will surpass the number of younger people by 2050. These changes will lead to a cascade of problems and challenges faced by the elderly. Research has also shown that elder abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation are among the biggest issues facing seniors across the world. According to World Health Organization data, 4 to 6 percent of the elderly suffer from some form of abuse and a large percentage of which are unattended. The world population of people aged 60 years and above will more than double from 900 million in 2015 to nearly 2 billion in 2050.

The day was also launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.

Objective:

The main objective of this day is to provide an opportunity for communities around the globe to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by creating awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Theme:

This year 2024, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day theme is “Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies”. This theme highlights the importance of protecting and supporting older individuals during crises. It urges governments, international donors, organizations, and communities to prioritize the safety and well-being of older persons in their emergency preparedness and response strategies. It also calls for the development of inclusive policies to ensure that older persons are not overlooked during crises.

2024: Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies
2023: Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses
2022: Digital Equity for All ages
2021: Access to Justice
2020: Lifting Up Voices
2019: Access to Justice: Legal, Social and Economic Services for Older Victims of Sexual, Physical and Financial Crimes
2018: Moving from Awareness to Action Through a Human Rights-Based Approach

Note: The UN also observes an International Day of Older Persons on 1 October every year to recognise the contributions to older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.

Elder Abuse: Key Facts to remember

According to UN:

Around 1 in 6 older people face some kind of abuse, this figure is higher than previously estimated and it is predicted that it will rise as populations aged worldwide.
Older people that are living in institutions than in the community, rates of abuse for older people are higher.
The problem of elder abuse may lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
As various countries are experiences rapidly ageing populations, so problem of elder abuse is predicted to increase.

The global population of people aged 60 years and older will increase from about 900 million in 2015 to nearly 2 billion in 2050.

Therefore, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated every year on June 15 to raise awareness about the problems that elder people face and how abuse can lead to serious physical injuries, mental trauma and psychological consequences. We all should think and respect our elders that they are also a part of the society, in fact it is because of them that we came into the world. We should not ignore them, after all they also have the right to live with dignity and it is our duty to fulfill their needs and provide support whenever and wherever required.