UN experts warn of abuse, violence issue against the elderly

A group of UN experts on Friday warned that a large number of the world's aging population are subject to different forms of abuse and violence on a daily basis and much needs to be done to protect the rights of older persons.

Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, the Independent Expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to monitor and report on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, said: "Even though innovative policies and programs have been adopted by many countries at the national level, the implementation and enforcement of the related policies are still inadequate to prevent, criminalize and eliminate such outrageous practices against older persons."

UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, highlighted the need to look at these issues from a gender perspective, age being an established contributory factor for risk of violence.

"Older women, due to their age and related physical, social and economic disadvantages are indeed particularly vulnerable to violence," she said.

"The array of forms of violence against older women, as well as the fact that this violence frequently occurs at the intersection of different types of discrimination, calls for the adoption of multidimensional strategies to effectively prevent and fight this violence," Manjoo added.

Human rights expert Emma Aouij, who currently heads the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice, noted that "violence and abuse against older women stem from multiple forms of discrimination that they may face during their lifetime."

On June 15, UN human rights specialists and other international experts will gather here to mark the UN World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

According to UNHRC, the experts will discuss the issue of abuse and violence against older people, in an event co-organized by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with civil society organizations.