INPEA Recognizing and Responding to Elder Abuse

Transcription

1 INPEA Recognizing and Responding to Elder Abuse Susan B. Somers, JD Secretary General, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)

2 INPEA Established at the IAGG World Congress, in Australia

3 INPEA Regional Representatives: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Middle East North Africa 60 National Representatives NGO Representatives to UN NY, Geneva, Vienna President: Gloria Gutman, PhD. Canada Executive Committee: Lia Susana Daichman, MD, Pass President, Argentina Nabil Kronfol, MD, DrPH. Vice President, Lebanon Susan B. Somers, JD, Secretary General, USA Robert Brent, PhD, Treasurer, USA

4 INPEA s Mission Acknowledging the diversity of culture, background, and life style of the world population, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse aims to increase society's ability, through international collaboration, to recognize and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the later years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

5 INPEA s Objectives Increase public awareness of the issue Promote education and training of professionals and paraprofessionals in identification, treatment and prevention Further advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected elders Stimulate research into the causes, consequences, prevalence, treatment and prevention of Elder abuse and Neglect

6 International Collaborations World Health Organization WHO/INPEA Missing Voices Report on Elder Abuse in developing countries.(2002)

7 INPEA s main Actions on EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND TRAINING Elder Abuse and Self Neglect first seen as a Health and Human Rights Issue by Past President, Dr. Lia Daichman, a clinical Geriatrician in Ar., INPEA s Agenda focused on training Allied Health Care Workers. Train the Trainer Seminars: Havana (Cuba) 2003, Buenos Aires (Argentina) 2004, 2010 Puebla (Mexico) 2007 Nepal, 2010

8 Train the Trainer Latin American Allied Medical Personnel IAGG Puebla Mexico 2007 Susana Aguas and Lia Daichman, MD

9 Nepal 2010: Train the Trainers Manohar Upreti, educates carers on laws to protect elders (Surket, Nepal) Dr. Das (87) and Tara Pradhan train hospital staff on elder s primary care.

10 International Rosalie S. Wolf Award Established in memory of INPEA s founder. Professor Rosalie S. Wolf INPEA has recognized outstanding International organizations, scholars, researchers, and dedicated practitioners as recipients.:

11 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Launched June 15, 2006, UNHQ, NYC Moving a step closer to the goal of building a society for all ages in which vulnerable older persons are enabled to live with dignity protected from neglect, abuse, and exploitation. We wish to recognize Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks Ed.D. past INPEA Vice President, who first proposed WEAAD and Dr. Alex Kalache, for his personal support and for hosting the first WEAAD and Dr. Lia Daichman for her unwavering efforts to have WEAAD recognized as an official UN Day of Commemoration, in 2011.

12 INPEA S NGO Team brings the issues of Older Person s to Member States at the United Nations, HQ, NY, The Human Rights Council, Geneva, and at the UN, Vienna

13 INPEA Promotes Older Persons Rights through the United Nations with Advocacy and Education INPEA is an NGO in Special Consultative Status to EcoSoc & holds DPI affiliation. Participated in UN Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, April Intergovernmental Conferences on Ageing for the five year Regional follow ups to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, (MIPAA +5, and MIPAA +10)

14 INPEA Intersects U N System SR Violence Against Women SR Right to Health SR Extreme Poverty Special Rapporteur s PARTNER WITH UN DEPTS/AGENCIES Participate in UN Sessions and Meetings: Human Rights Sessions Comm Social Development Comm Status of Women 1 st DPI Briefing on Social Isolation DPI Affiliation CoNGO Substantive Committees: Comm Social Development and Comm on Ageing, NY: Co-chairs: Sub Comm s Elder Abuse Older Women Civil Society Forum 2013 ECOSOC Consultative status Regional MIPAA NGO Forums and Ministerial Reviews: ECLAC and UN ECE Interact with Intergovernmental Agencies: WHO, AU. etc. Participate in Expert Meeting Groups Member States: Provide Support and Information to UN Missions, NY, Geneva, Vienna

15 INPEA s Participation in the UN Partner with UN Program on Ageing, Focal Point on Ageing, Planned with UN Dept. of Public Information (DPI) for the 1 st Briefing on Social Isolation, Participated in DPI Conf, Mx., Participated in Expert Group Meeting on Ageing, Bonn., Active in CoNGO Substantive Committees: Comm. on Ageing: Chair: Sub Comm s Elder Abuse and Sub Comm. Older Women, on Exec Comm. and Past Co Chairs IDOP, WEAAD Comm. on Social Development: Co Chair Civil Society Forum 2013, Prepare and submit: Written and oral interventions, Plan and Present: Parallel events UN Sessions and Meetings, OEWG and Regional MIPAA +10 Reviews, LA.C and ECE. Contribute to Ageing in 21 st Century, HelpAge, UNFPA

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17 GOAL: Equality and Non Discrimination of Older Persons INPEA s Key UN strategy and challenges: Build Knowledge and Capacity of NGO s and Member States and Older Persons. Maximize awareness of consequences of ageism, inequality, gender discrimination. Seek out and share effective evidence based sustainable solutions. Identify key stakeholders for collaboration.

18 URGENT CONCERNS Violence Against Older Women/Widows Harmful Cultural and Traditional Practices Lack of Social Protection Extreme Poverty Self Neglect Dementia

19 United Nations Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) annually on June 15. December 19, 2011, United Nations Headquarters in New York City, the United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized Elder Abuse as an a global social issue which affects the Health and Human Rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community. The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, (WEAAD), was first instituted by The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) on June 15, Elder abuse, perhaps the last taboo, is widely unrecognized and grossly under reported around the Globe, according to the studies undertaken by INPEA members from numerous countries.

20 UN Open Ended Working Group on Ageing INPEA Main UN Rep Jim Collins Intervenes. Erica Dhar, AARP (L) INPEA Rep Argentina Prof. Giraudo Esquivo

21 UN Women Invites INPEA to International Women s Day st time Older Women s Issues share the Dais Dr. Pat Brownell, INPEA UN Rep. NY

22 In collaboration with: More must be done to expose, investigate and prevent discrimination, abuse and violence against older persons, especially women who are more vulnerable. There has been some progress in promoting the human rights of older persons, notably discussions centering on the development of international human rights instruments that specifically address older persons. Enabling Environments, Pg5 UNDESA, FAO, ILO, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UN Habitat, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, WFP, WHO, ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, GAA, HelpAge USA, IFA, INPEA, IOM

23 Intergenerational Solidarity a Protective Factor Nepal: Grandfather waits over five days at Regional Hospital with ailing Grandchild At the Zoo Kerala, India Family visit to Temple Elephants India Older Woman begging at a Temple in Nepal

24 A Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People Built on the strength and dedication of nine International NGO s known and respected in the field of Ageing and Human Rights with Alex Kalache, MD as Senior Advisor. Committed to a new international binding instrument to ensure Older Person s rights. Launched a document for dialogue, Participated in Human Rights Workshops: Australia, Brazil, Argentina, S. Africa, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, Geneva, Prague, Germany.

25 GA Creating Space for a Global Dialogue Towards a New UN Convention

26 Why a Convention to Protect Older Persons Human Rights? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (UDHR) states in Article 1 all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights Outside of the UDHR older person s rights are largely invisible under international law. A specific legal framework will oblige Governments to realize the rights of all people regardless of age. As the numbers of older people grow they will face more age discrimination and ageism, inequality and loss of dignity.

27 Older Persons Rights Include: The right to equal protection before the law. The right to own property The right to education The right to work and The right to participate in government. The right to social security (pension) The right to health and social care (access)

28 Violations of Older persons rights Men and women are denied access to services, jobs or treated without respect due to their age, gender, disability, etc. They are often subject to abuse including verbal, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse. Often by family, or other community members. Older women who have labored in informal jobs lack pensions and often face poverty in old age.

29 Global Alliance Collaboration on a Background Statement of Principles On the 20 th December 2012 the UN General Assembly decided that the open-ended working group on ageing shall starting from its fourth session, to be held in 2013 consider proposals for such an instrument, based on the holistic approach in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination, and gender equality. UN Member States will approach this discussion very seriously and will endeavour to ensure that any ensuing proposals reflect their own priorities and concerns.

30 The Role of Civil Society in Developing Principles Experience from the establishment of previous human rights instruments (disabilities, women, children) demonstrates that the voice of civil society is influential in (a) both the content and form of proposed international instruments, and (b) whether UN Member States are emboldened to support such an instrument. A strong, broad-based response from civil society globally is imperative to make clear the requirements of older people now and for future generations regarding the protection of their human rights.

31 Purpose of the Project To develop a Statement of Principles that underpins a new human rights instrument that resonates with civil society globally. The Statement of Principles will be used in the first instance as an advocacy tool to reflect the voice of civil society in helping to shape and influence the work of the Open-ended Working Group and Member States and subsequently future discussions regarding an international human rights instrument for older persons.

32 What would a Convention Do? Help older people live in dignity Change societies view of older people Increase respect for older people Provide legal protection under international law Provide clarity of their rights Provide a framework for policy Promote age sensitive programs

33 What you can do Only with broad public support can a UN convention be achieved. Obtain commitment of your organization Translate key documents for public education Gather evidence of age discrimination, abuse, neglect Develop a strategy for public support

34 Add your strength towards a UN Convention on Older Persons Rights Join with INPEA. Work with the International Community of Nation States, Civil Society, NGO s and Older Persons themselves towards this goal. For documents and information go to: INSIST on A Society for All Ages! Thank you,