This document discusses elder abuse and efforts to raise awareness of the issue. It provides definitions of elder abuse and outlines the types of abuse. It also notes that the aging population is increasing, and with it, cases of elder abuse. Statistics about elder abuse in Nepal are presented, showing the number of older people who died or were injured due to physical abuse by year and sex. The document concludes by showing the district-wise distribution of physical abuse incidents in Nepal between 2012 and 2014.

1. THIRD UN WORLD ELDER ABUSE
AWARNESS DAY (WEAAD)
Jun 15, 2014
Bhumidatta Poudel
Ageing Nepal

2. 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)

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. 2. Types of elder abuse (WHO 2002)

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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.

9. Cont….
• On December 19, 2011, UN General
Assembly officially recognized elder abuse
as a global social issue that affects the
health and human rights of millions of older
persons around the world.
• After the continuous observation of
WEAAD around the globe for several years,
UN declared June 15 as an official UN
International Day in 2012.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. Cont……
• A total of one hundred eighty
abandoned dead bodies of older
persons were found in different parts of
the country during the above mentioned
time frame.
• 132 were male and 48 were female.
Source: Voice of Senior Citizens, 2012, 2013
and 2014, Ageing Nepal

17. 7. District-wise distribution of physical abuse incidents
(January 2012 - April 2014)

18. Thank you !!!