WUNRN
Website of the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights of Older Persons, Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/OlderPersons/IE/Pages/IEOlderPersons.aspx
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing & the Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing
http://undesadspd.org/Ageing/MadridPlanofActionanditsImplementation.aspx
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16084&LangID=E
Call to End Elder Abuse – UN Independent Expert
on Human Rights of Older Persons
Stop All Forms of Abuse and Violence against Older Persons – OLDER WOMEN
- Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” – 15 June 2015
Abuse and violence against older persons has recently gained attention
at the international, regional and national levels. Abuse and violence
encompass the various forms, practices, perceptions and assumptions that exist
in different groups across and within societies. In that sense, it should not
only encompass physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse
but should extent to exploitation, neglect, abandonment or desertion, among
others. Practices of abuse and violence could be the result of social,
economic, cultural and political structures that could directly or indirectly
lead to the marginalization of older persons by their families and societies.
It is global problem that occurs everywhere, regardless of socioeconomic
status, in poor and rich families, in developed and developing countries.
Therefore, it is important to consider elder abuse as part of a broader
objective to improve the conditions of life for older persons and to respect
for their dignity.
As the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by
older persons, I have been mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council
to assess the implementation of existing international instruments with regard
to older persons in order to ensure that older persons enjoy all their human
rights, whatever the circumstances. I have also been requested to raise
awareness of the challenges faced in the realization of all human rights by
older persons, and to ensure that older persons receive information about those
rights.
Since the beginning of my mandate, I have made elder abuse one of my
priorities. For instance, in the first report that I presented to the
Human Rights Council last year, I adopted a comprehensive approach to ageing,
which included pressing issues such as the right of older persons to live free
from abuse and violence.
During the three official country visits I have made recently to
Slovenia, Austria and Mauritius I assessed how each of these States have, so
far, addressed the issue of elder abuse, through a deep analysis of laws,
policies, programmes and strategies and the identification of gaps as well as
good practices. The reports of these official visits, with conclusions and recommendations,
will be shared with all of you in September of this year.
Furthermore, my first thematic report on autonomy and care that I will
present to the Human Rights Council in September will also include the
situation of abuse and violence against older persons in different care
settings.
In addition, I have been mandated to assess the human rights
implications of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action
on Ageing (MIPAA). This Plan, makes explicit reference to neglect, abuse and
violence, and establishes a series of recommendations to States and other
stakeholders to tackle these challenges.
Among the actions, the Plan mentions the sensitization of professionals
and education of the general public, using media and other awareness-raising
campaigns on the subject of elder abuse, with particular attention to older
women. It specifically mentions that older women face greater risk than men of
physical and psychological abuse due to discriminatory social attitudes and the
non-realization of human rights of women. Also, that some harmful traditional
and customary practices result in abuse and violence directed against those who
might face barriers such as poverty and lack of legal protection. The Plan
further encourages the abolition of widowhood rites that are harmful to the
health and well-being of women.
Thus, any policy, plan or strategy should adopt an age perspective as
well as a gender and disability perspective. This framework should address the
root causes and develop preventive mechanisms, including redress mechanisms in
order to hold perpetrators accountable for their acts.
In addition, the Plan recommends actions to support services to address
elder abuse, such as the establishment of health, social services and the development
of training programs for caring professions and to empower older persons. In
this context, any policy, plan or strategy should take into consideration the
contribution and participation of older persons in order to assess their needs
and break the taboo that still persists in our societies. There is a
human cost to our inaction.
This Plan also encourages research and cooperation to tackle this
issue. In fact, more data, research and analysis are needed to better
assess the current situation. Have all States adopted legislation in order to
translate their international obligations into concrete action at the national
and local levels? Do we have regulatory and institutional mechanisms to move
forward that allow older persons to manifest their mistreatment without fear of
retaliation? If and when appropriate, are these mechanisms implemented in rural
and remote areas?
One of the main challenges that I have already come across is the lack
of large-scale research, indicators, and the systematic collection and analysis
of data. Records of abuse and violence are difficult to obtain or sometimes
even confidential.
That is why I have sent out a questionnaire to all States and other
stakeholders in order to assess the human rights implications of the implementation
of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. I would like take this
opportunity to commend all States and stakeholders that have already sent
responses to my questionnaire. I invite those who have not yet responded to
send their inputs. Considering the lack of information and data, all responses
will be extremely helpful and will contribute to the comprehensive report that
I will present next year to the Human Rights Council.
Before I conclude, I would like to say that simply being aware of about
elder abuse is, in itself, not enough. We need to work together to help promote
a change in attitudes, where being old should no longer be seen as pejorative
but as positive. For that to happen, it is important to facilitate and actively
encourage intergenerational dialogue.
Older persons should no longer be perceived as a burden to society but
as participative and productive individuals who continue to make a meaningful
contribution to our societies, both for present and future generations.
On this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, I therefore call on all
Governments and other stakeholders to renew their commitment to fight against
all forms of abuse and violence against older persons and to promote all their
human rights. Older persons are right-holders and must be able to live free
from abuse and violence and with dignity.
States, civil society, the private sector, the media, the entire UN, associations of older persons and for older persons must join forces in addressing this global challenge.