Nearly 73% of elderly faced abuse during the COVID- 19 lockdown. Elder abuse is a global social issue that affects the mental and physical health of the older generation and diminishes their rights.
The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed on 15th June to highlight the issue of elder abuse. Initially, in 2006, a request to establish 15th June as a special day for elders and senior citizens was made. However, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) finally recognised the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2011.
The day aims at raising awareness about elder abuse which can be sexual, physical, mental financial and social in nature and also includes ill-treatment and neglect. As per a survey conducted by the Agewell Foundation, around 73 percent of elders faced abuse during the coronavirus lockdown amid the ongoing second wave in India.
Theme for 2021
The theme this year is ‘Access to Justice’, which aims at reminding the importance to address the needs of elders who may seek recourse. The older generation who have gone through abuse, violence and neglect often face problems in accessing judicial remedies owing issues of affordability, accessibility, gender bias, the impact of digitalisation, excessive delays and backlogs in judicial processes, reasonable accommodation, and discrimination. The ability to fully exercise their human rights gets impacted by their access to justice. For elders, the preservation of respect and dignity is crucial in such situations.
#SayNoToAbuse
#SayNoToElderlyAbuse
