THIRD UN WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARNESS DAY (WEAAD)

Jun 15, 2014

Bhumidatta PoudelAgeing Nepal

Presentation Outline

1. Definition of elder abuse

2. Types of elder abuse

3. Ageing population and increase in elder abuse

4. Some causes of elder abuse

5. Global efforts to prevent elder abuse

6. Situation of elder abuse in Nepal

7. Distribution of physical abuse incidents by districts

(January 2012 - April 2014)

1. Definition of elder abuse

• "A single, or repeated act, or lack

of appropriate action, occurring

within any relationship where

there is an expectation of trust

which causes harm or distress to

an older person" (WHO, 2002).

Characteristics

• Hidden and often ignored social problem.

• Considered mostly a private matter.

• Definitional difficulty (intentional or unintentional

behavior)

• Occurs in both developing and developed

countries.

• Not raised like child abuse and women violence.

• Lack of proper data/study.

2. Types of elder abuse (WHO 2002)

3. Ageing population and increase in

Elder Abuse (WHO, 2002)

• By 2025 people aged 60 years and above

will double from 542 million in 1995 to

about 1.2 billion.

• Cases of elder abuse will increase along

with increasing number of older persons.

4. Some causes of elder abuse

• The depiction of older people as frail, weak and

dependent

• Erosion of the bonds between generations of a family

• Restructuring of the basic support networks for the

elderly

• Systems of inheritance and land rights affecting the

distribution of power and material goods within families

• Migration of young couples to other areas leaving elderly

parents alone, (Empty nest syndrome)

5. Global Efforts to Prevent Elder Abuse

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

(WEAAD) was first initiated by the

International Network for the Prevention of

Elder Abuse (INPEA) on June 15, 2006.

• WEAAD intends to make abuse and neglect

of older people globally relevant and known

so as to initiate sustained prevention efforts.

Cont….

• On December 19, 2011, UN GeneralAssembly officially recognized elder abuseas a global social issue that affects thehealth and human rights of millions of olderpersons around the world.

• After the continuous observation ofWEAAD around the globe for several years,UN declared June 15 as an official UNInternational Day in 2012.

Cont…

• INPEA has identified followings as priority

areas of work.

Violence against older women/widows;

Harmful cultural and traditional practices;

Lack of social protection;

Extreme poverty;

Self-neglect; and

Dementia.

6. Situation of elder abuse in Nepal

Table 1. Death of Older Abuse Due to Physical Abuse by Sex

Years Male Age Female Age Total

60 – 70 70 - 80 80+ 60 – 70 70 - 80 80+

2012 22 4 4 12 5 5 52

2013 9 5 3 14 2 2 35

2014 6 0 2 0 1 0 9

GT 55 41 96

Cont…………• Altogether ninety six older persons were physically abused

that finally led to their death.

55 of the victims were male and 41 were female.

In 38 of the reported cases, abusers were elder’s family

members and relatives (i.e., son or daughter-in-law or young

brother or spouse).

In 15 of the cases, abusers were elder’s neighbors or

villagers.

In 41 of the cases, perpetrator were unknown person or

group.

Root cause for 27 of the cases were family disputes.

Table no. 2 Elderly Injured Due to Physical Abuse by sex

Years Male Age Female Age Total

60 – 70 70 - 80 80+ 60 – 70 70 - 80 80+

2012 12 4 4 20 5 3 48

2013 8 2 0 17 7 1 35

2014 0 1 0 2 2 1 6

G T 31 58 89

Cont….• Altogether eighty nine cases were reported about the

older persons who were physically abused but survived.

Total victims were 89 (58 female + 31 male).

In 21 of the total cases reported, abusers were their

family members(son or daughter-in-law or husband) or

relative.

In 24 of the cases, perpetrators were elder’s neighbour or

villagers or locals.

20 elderly were cruelly abused for practicing witchcraft.

Family dispute was the major cause for 16 of the

reported cases.

Root cause of the 20 cases remained unknown.

Table no. 3 Abandoned Dead Bodies of Older Persons by Sex

Years Male Female Total

2012 62 22 84

2013 49 21 70

2014 21 5 26

GT 132 48 180

Cont……

• A total of one hundred eightyabandoned dead bodies of olderpersons were found in different parts ofthe country during the above mentionedtime frame.

• 132 were male and 48 were female.

Source: Voice of Senior Citizens, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Ageing Nepal

7. District-wise distribution of physical abuse incidents

(January 2012 - April 2014)

Thank you !!!