In 2011, June 15th was designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Codified in the 66/127 resolution by the United Nations General Assembly, it was the response to a request made by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), which, five years earlier, had established the commemoration (in June 2006).
The annual event this year took place yesterday. It was observed around the world in an effort to eliminate elder abuse, an event which has been on the rise. The idea also is for communities internationally to promote a greater understanding of the elderly, the potential for abuse/neglect and an increased knowledge of the culture, social and economic components of the elderly community.
Yesterday therefore – as in every June 15 – really was an amazing opportunity to unite in opposition against suffering unnecessarily caused toward the elder members of our society.
For more information on this important event, check out the UN’s page on Ageing. There you will find a list of issues that are tackled (including rights of older persons, elder abuse, neglect, abuse and violence of older women, global ageing and the data revolution); resources (such as from the: Commission for Social Development, Open Ended Working Group on Ageing, 1999 International Year of Older Persons, Data on Older Persons), Social media, multimedia and news items.
This day – set aside each year – is geared toward a time in which the whole world uses its voice to shut down any kind of abuse taking place within the elderly demographic.