Shazia Ramzan
Respecting elders is important for several reasons. First and foremost, elders possess a wealth of knowledge and life experiences that can offer valuable insights and wisdom. We acknowledge and appreciate their contributions to our families and communities by respecting and honouring elders. Additionally, showing respect towards elders demonstrates empathy, compassion, and gratitude, fostering stronger intergenerational relationships. Furthermore, respecting elders reflects our cultural and moral values, promoting a harmonious and inclusive society where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Ultimately, respecting elders is a fundamental aspect of building a compassionate and empathetic community that cherishes the wisdom and experiences of all its members.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) holds significant importance in raising awareness about the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by older persons, particularly during emergencies. The theme for WEAAD highlights the critical need to address the specific needs of older individuals in times of crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, or conflicts. The commemoration of WEAAD serves as an opportunity to urge governments, international donors, organizations, and communities to consider the unique vulnerabilities of older persons in their emergency planning and response strategies. By emphasizing the development of inclusive policies and proactive measures, WEAAD aims to ensure the safety and well-being of older individuals during emergencies and advocate for their active inclusion in all phases of emergency management.
Additionally, WEAAD plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the challenges faced by older persons in emergencies and in promoting education and training for emergency responders, caregivers, and the broader community. By fostering a better understanding of the specific vulnerabilities of older persons during crisis situations, WEAAD seeks to create a more inclusive and protective environment for older individuals in times of need. Moreover, the day serves as an important platform to reaffirm the commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of older persons, ensuring their safety and well-being, and leaving no one behind, particularly during emergencies.
Furthermore, the projected global increase in the number of individuals aged 60 years or over highlights the urgency of addressing the specific challenges affecting older persons, including the pervasive issue of elder abuse. WEAAD draws attention to the importance of a comprehensive global response aimed at protecting the rights of older persons and addressing the multifaceted issue of elder abuse, which remains underreported and often unrecognized globally. This highlights the need to equip primary health care and social service sectors to identify and address elder abuse effectively to ensure the well-being of older individuals worldwide.
The theme “Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies” for this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) underscores the critical need to address the vulnerabilities of older individuals during crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, or conflicts. Emergencies tend to exacerbate the existing challenges faced by older persons, including mobility issues, chronic health conditions, and social isolation, making it difficult for them to access essential aid, evacuate safely, or receive necessary medical care and support services. Additionally, the chaos and stress of emergencies can heighten the risk of elder abuse, encompassing physical, emotional, financial, or neglect-related aspects.
The focus of WEAAD 2024 is to urge governments, international donors, organizations, and communities to consider the specific needs of older persons in their emergency planning and response strategies. It emphasizes the development of inclusive policies and proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of older individuals during crises, advocating for their active inclusion in all phases of emergency management.
Moreover, WEAAD 2024 aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by older persons in emergencies and promote education and training for emergency responders, caregivers, and the broader community. By highlighting these issues and fostering a better understanding of the unique vulnerabilities of older persons in emergency situations, the campaign seeks to create a more inclusive and protective environment for older individuals in times of crisis.
The commemoration of WEAAD is an opportunity for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of older persons, ensuring their safety and well-being, and reaffirming the principle of leaving no one behind, particularly during emergencies.
The projected global increase in the number of individuals aged 60 years or over, estimated to grow by 38% from 2019 to 2030, highlights the urgency of addressing the specific challenges affecting older persons, including the pervasive issue of elder abuse. Elder abuse, a human rights violation, remains underreported and often unrecognized globally, with prevalence rates only available for selected developed countries, ranging from 1% to 10%.
Recognizing the social and moral significance of elder abuse, there is an evident need for a comprehensive global response aimed at protecting the rights of older persons and addressing this multifaceted issue. Any approach to define, detect, and address elder abuse must be sensitive to cultural contexts, considering culturally specific risk factors that contribute to elder mistreatment. Examples include forced marriages of older widows in certain traditional societies and the isolation of older women accused of witchcraft in others.
From a health and social perspective, it is vital to equip both the primary health care and social service sectors to identify and address elder abuse effectively. Without such measures in place, elder abuse will continue to be underdiagnosed and overlooked, emphasizing the imperative of a concerted effort to protect the rights and well-being of older individuals globally.
