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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 15 to educate people to stop abusing people just because they are older and cannot retaliate. Elder abuse is a major global issue that needs to be sought. The day was first requested by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse to dedicate a day to make people aware of the abuse against older people in June 2006. After discussion, United Nations General Awareness officially announced in December 2011 to henceforth observe June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The Ill-treatment of elderly people is one of the world’s most significant yet least addressed issues. The day aims to raise awareness among the masses about elder abuse awareness, physical, mental, sexual, economic, and social. People often neglect their parents just because they are old and are difficult to manage. Even in a few instances, people go to the extent of isolating and famishing their older parents. Also, this day aims to educate people on a global level about the abuse and neglect of elders. Elder abuse is a global issue that affects older people's health and diminishes their rights.
The theme for 2021, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is “Access to Justice”. This theme aims to remind people of the importance and need to address the needs of elders who may seek resources. Access to Justice influences the capacity of older people to fully enjoy their fundamental rights and live a life full of dignity.
According to the United Nations, the older persons who have experienced situations of violence, abuse, and neglect, often face multiple hurdles in accessing judicial remedies such as issues of accessibility, affordability, reasonable delays, excessive delays and backlogs in judicial processes, the impact of digitalization, cultural norms, discrimination, gender bias and entrenched ageism in policy, norms, and practices.
•In 2017, it was found that 1 in every 6 older persons was subjected to abuse. •Each year about 5 million elders are abused globally. •In this lockdown caused due to pandemic, the abuse towards elders has increased. •According to the survey conducted by the Agewell Foundation, around 73 percent of elders faced abuse during the coronavirus lockdown amid the ongoing second wave in India. •The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), a national survey conducted by an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), found that 1 in 20 people aged 60 or above had experienced ill-treatment in the last year, most often from their own caretakers. •A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 estimated that globally 16% of people aged 60 years and older were abused. •The prevalence estimate was 11.6% for psychological abuse, 6.8% for financial abuse, 4.2% for neglect, 2.6% for physical abuse, 0.9% for sexual abuse in community settings.
Elder abuse is such a problem that prevails in both developing and developed countries and is hard to eradicate until the mentality of people changes. The abuse in terms of emotional neglect is more fatal for elders. Because what elders need more is emotional support, they just crave love.
It is high time people realize the sin they are doing by abusing elders. We owe a lot to the elders and they have sacrificed a lot for us. Just think once, is it really okay to repay their sacrifice through abuse? No, right? Even if you see anyone abusing their older parents, just report it to the police immediately. No one deserves to be abused.
Let us commit ourselves to proactively address elder abuse.
