WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY (WEAAD)
June 15, 2016
The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 66/127, designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is the important day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on our old aged people.
The global population of people aged 60 years and older will double by 2025 in other words older people will exceed the number of younger people. It is estimated that people above the age of 60 will be 1.2 billion in 2025 from 542 million in 1995.
Statistics by World Health Organization states that around 4 to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of ill-treatment at home. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
Even today, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly underestimated and ignored by societies across the world. Evidence is accumulating, however, to indicate that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem.
The purpose of WEAAD is to bring awareness and encourage communities around the world to understand the problems facing by the older people and to protect them from abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation.
“The distressing crime of elder abuse often occurs in quiet, private settings, making a vocal, public response that much more important. Let us strengthen our resolve to end this problem as part of our broader efforts to create a life of dignity for all.”
-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
(with un.org)
Image credit: www.thefreshquotes.com
