World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025; June 15th.

FORUM: “Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action.” World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025. With a global ageing population and increasing reliance on institutional care, ensuring residents’ safety and dignity is more urgent than ever. Despite increased awareness, many countries still lack reliable, disaggregated data, and staff shortages or lack of adequate training, continue to create high-risk conditions for abuse and neglect. A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported study revealed that nearly 64% of institutional staff admitted to abusive behavior in the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change. This year’s theme will focus on the abuse of older adults in long-term care facilities. Whereas most older people live in the community, institutional care is a reality for many. As the need for institutional care grows with global aging, so do concerns about safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of residents is of outmost importance. Let’s stand together to protect older adults from abuse — because every older person deserves to live with respect, security, and care. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay, #WEAAD, #Elderabuse, #15June, #WEAAD2025.

EVENTS: On Sunday, June 15th, from 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm (EDT) in the context of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025, the World Health Organization in partnership with Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN and with support from the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) will celebrate the day and to join forces to remind the world that older people are rights holders, who deserve to live free from ageism, abuse and neglect.

On Monday, June 16h, from 13:15 pm – 14:45 pm ET(EDT) a virtual event to mark the 2025 International WEAAD Commemoration will be held to emphasize both good practices and existing shortcomings, the conference will contribute to stronger, evidence-based efforts to protect the rights and dignity of older people in institutional care. Join leading experts as they share evidence, good practices, and solutions to strengthen protections and drive systemic change. The expert panel will explore the often-overlooked issue of abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities, with a focus on protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of older persons. Panelists will discuss data, practical challenges, and human rights-based solutions to improve oversight, staff training, resident safeguards, and accountability in institutional care settings, drawing on global experiences and recent developments. The event will mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlight the urgent need for action across systems and settings. 

Welcome remarks: Mr. Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Section, UN DESA Moderator: Sara Salman - Population Affairs Officer at UN ESCWA Theatrical. Interlude: Waiting for the rain. directed by: Mr/Lazar Jovanov, Demir Mekic, Branka B. Bajic. Panelists: Setting the Scene: Ms. Natasa Todorovic, MPH, INPEA Reg Rep Europe, RedCross of Serbia - Ms. Claudia Mahler, PhD, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, TBC - Ms. Lucia Vidovićová, PhD, Masaryk Univ | Faculty of Social Studies, Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs RILSA, INPEA Rep to Czech Republic - Wenche Malmedal, PhD, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing NTNU, INPEA Rep to Norway - Eilon Caspi, PhD, Gerontologist and Elder Mistreatment Researcher, Director, Dementia Behavior Consulting LLC - Robert Brent, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Fordham University, and LTC Ombudsman Closing:Susan B. Somers, JD, President, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Get the Concept Note; The Flyer; The Agenda Programme and Register to participate!

PUBLICATION: An expert panel will present the overall trends of violence against older persons, which highlight gaps and challenges of implementing the objectives in Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Expert panelists will focus on five priorities to combat violence against older persons in the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). Get the published report Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030, the resource outline the key priorities to prevent and respond to abuse of older persons and, hence, contribute to improving their health, well-being and dignity.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024; June 15th.

FORUM: "Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies." World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024.

As the world prepares to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on 15 June, this year DESA programme on ageing, in partnership with the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), will focus on the theme, "Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies," to highlight the critical need to protect and support older persons during crises. Established by the United Nations in 2011, WEAAD aims to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and exploitation that older persons face, while promoting respect and dignity for this population. Emergencies, whether natural disasters, pandemics, or conflicts, disproportionately impact older persons. These events often exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, making it essential to address their needs in emergency planning and response. Older persons may face mobility issues, chronic health conditions, or social isolation, making it difficult for them to access aid, evacuate safely, or receive timely medical care as well as support services. Moreover, the stress and chaos of emergencies can increase the risk of elder abuse, whether physical, emotional, financial, or neglect. This year's WEAAD calls on Governments, international donors, organizations, and communities to prioritize the safety and well-being of older persons in their emergency preparedness and response strategies. It encourages the development of inclusive policies that ensure older persons are not overlooked during crises. This includes creating accessible evacuation plans, ensuring continuity of healthcare services, and providing targeted support to prevent isolation and abuse. The WEAAD 2024 also emphasizes the importance of education and training for emergency responders, caregivers, and the public. By increasing awareness about the specific challenges faced by older persons in emergencies, we can foster a more inclusive and protective environment. As we come together to observe WEAAD, let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of older persons, ensuring that no one is left behind, especially in times of crisis.

 

EVENTS: 2024 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

At UNHQ in New York.

"Combating violence, abuse and neglect of older persons during conflict situations."

Date: Fri, Jun 14 2024 | International Day
Location: Virtual
Time: 10:45am - 12:00pm

Background: Conflicts and violence are currently escalating globally. By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in every 6 people will be aged 65 or over, increasing the vulnerability experienced by older persons to violence. The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons has noted a surge in elder abuse, exacerbated by a confluence of crises, including the recent pandemic, climate change, and armed conflicts. Particularly, conflicts exacerbate existing human rights concerns for older persons, aggravating violence, abuse, and neglect during these volatile situations. Many older persons living in conflict zones face heightened risks of violence, abuse, and neglect compared to other community members. Due to additional vulnerabilities such as reduced mobility, health challenges, and disability, older persons may be unable to flee violence, unlike many younger people in similar situations. Moreover, older persons often experience ageism and discrimination, leading to their needs being overlooked during humanitarian or crises response service. Such situations further impede access by older persons to nutrition, healthcare, and other essential needs necessary for their survival. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, in many ongoing conflicts waged between nonstate actors such as political insurgents, international terrorist groups, and other illicit groups, older persons are increasingly targeted for violent acts, including unlawful killings, executions, rape, and destruction of their livelihoods. They often cannot access remedial services to seek legal counsel or redress. Protective laws for older persons are scarce in conflict situations, enabling perpetrators of violence to act with impunity. As conflict and violence persist, elder abuse will continue to escalate, targeting the most vulnerable, including older women, Indigenous Peoples, refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and migrants. Meaningful engagement and participation of older persons in conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives are crucial to achieving the targets in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

Objectives: • Raise awareness and foster action to combat violence, abuse, and neglect against older persons in conflict settings. • Promote innovative approaches to meet the diverse needs of older persons, enhancing their access to essential healthcare services, including mental health support, nutrition, and other basic necessities, within humanitarian response frameworks. • Facilitate discussions around the development of inclusive policies and strategies aimed at preventing and addressing elder abuse within conflict contexts. • Explore avenues for engaging stakeholders, including older persons themselves, in conflict resolution efforts and ensuring their meaningful participation in initiatives for civilian protection, humanitarian response, conflict prevention, resolution, reconciliation, reconstruction, and peacebuilding • Advocate for enhanced data collection and needs assessment methodologies tailored to effectively address the multifaceted needs of older persons in conflict situations.

Click here to register for the event. Read the Concept Note, Explore the Programme and Speakers and Panelists Bios.

At UN Geneva.

A virtual event to mark the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) will be held in Geneva by WHO, UN-DESA and INPEA. The online webinar will take place Monday 17 June 2024 from 14.30 to 16.00 CET. The webinar will provide an update on progress towards addressing the priorities in Tackling abuse of older people - Five priorities for the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030); Please register for the webinar here, where you will also find more information. Explore the Flyer and the Programme.

The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed on 15 June. It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/127 in 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who first established the commemoration in 2006. WEAAD represents the one day in the year when the world voices its opposition to elder abuse, a human rights violation, and enhances the recognition of the dignity of older persons and their right to live free of fear and violence.

STATEMENT: The Minister of Seniors,of the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023; June 15th.

FORUM: "Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Older Age Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses." World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023.

Ahead of the milestone of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), this year’s commemoration of WEAAD will also connect with the year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary. As the month of June of the campaign will focus on showcasing the UDHR by raising awareness on its legacy, relevance and activism as relates to women’s rights, the theme of the 2023 WEAAD commemoration in the United Nations Headquarters in New York is entitled Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age - Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses. Folllow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay, #15june, #WEAAD, #Elderabuse.

EVENTS: At UNHQ New York, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023 panel discussion will be held on Thursday, 15 June 2023, from 1:15pm – 2:30pm (EDT).

An expert panel will present overall trends of violence against older persons, highlight gaps and challenges of implementing the objectives in Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Expert panelists will also present five priorities to combat violence against older persons in the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).

WEBINARS: On June 15, 2023, come learn from experts and each other about the best practices for preventing elder abuse, and the latest trends among aging population at the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference. SEE IT. STOP IT. PREVENT IT.  Elder Abuse Awareness

PUBLICATIONS: In the context of last year’s commemoration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the World Health Organization in partnership with Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN and with support from the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), published Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. The resource outlined key priorities to prevent and respond to abuse of older persons and, hence, contribute to improving their health, well-being and dignity. This year, the commemoration will provide an update on the implementation of the priorities.

World Elder Abuse Awreness Day 2022; June 15th.

 FORUM: "Combatting Elder Abuse." World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022.

This year, WEAAD coincides with two important events. The first is the start of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). This marks the beginning of ten years of concerted, catalytic and sustained collaboration with diverse stakeholders on improving the lives of older people, their families and their communities. The second is the 20th milestone of the Second World Assembly on Ageing and the fourth review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). These provide an opportunity to generate renewed momentum for international action to advance the ageing agenda.

MIPAA represents the first time Governments agreed to link questions of ageing to other frameworks for social and economic development and human rights. The 159 Member States who signed onto the MIPAA reaffirmed the commitment to spare no effort to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development.

This complementarity between MIPAA and a human rights framework can be easily shown in the area of elder abuse. MIPAA includes various references to elder abuse, including “Issue3: Neglect, Abuse and Violence,” which provides two objectives relating to the elimination of all forms of neglect, abuse and violence of older persons; as well as the creation of support services to address elder abuse. Both objectives include actions to review policies, enact laws and create awareness, information, training, and research initiatives. However, in the absence of an international standard on the rights of older persons, gaps between policy and practice, and the mobilization of necessary human and financial resources, as well as the uneven progress in the implementation of MIPAA continues. An international legal instrument for older persons would advance the implementation and accountability of MIPAA.

Statement from the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

EVENTS

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022 "Combatting Elder Abuse'' Programme #WEAAD2022

Join the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY in its observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2022. Content experts will address the confluence of two under-reported experiences of many older persons, particularly older women: elder abuse and disability. 

Discussion will explore vulnerabilities while incorporating a strengths-based perspective. Approaches and resources to reduce situations of potential or actual mistreatment will be highlighted, including passage of a global legal instrument to protect the rights of older persons.

Date and venue: Wednesday, 15 June 2022, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
New York, USA.

SIDE EVENT

Combatting Elder Abuse: What’s next?Five priorities for the Decade INPEA Side event, UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing Rome, 16 June 2022 held in commemoration of the WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY #WEAAD2022 

Date and venue: 16 June 2022.
Rome, Italy.

By standing up to adult abuse, you are also standing up for the human rights of older people everywhere.

3rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Conference hosted by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), which will be back in person this year! Individuals, professional organizations and communities are invited to connect and advocate against abuse, neglect and exploitation of aging adults and residents with disabilities.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021; June 15th

 

FORUM: Access to Justice; World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021

Please join INPEA with the United Nations in the official observation of the day, a virtual Program-  Addressing Violence, Abuse and Neglect: Ensuring Access to Justice.

World Health Organization Live Q&A on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Ask your questions!