Jane Mears School of Social Sciences and Psychology Western Sydney University 13th IFA Conference, Brisbane, Tuesday 21 - Thursday 23 June 2016

Transcription

1 A Human Rights Approach to Dealing with Elder Abuse: The Older Women s Network (OWN), Research, Activism and the Prevention of Violence Against Older Women Jane Mears School of Social Sciences and Psychology Western Sydney University 13th IFA Conference, Brisbane, Tuesday 21 - Thursday 23 June 2016

2 Older Women: Structural and Interpersonal Violence The feminisation of ageing and the intersecting of age and gender has important implications for policy. Older women subjected to discrimination based on age, gender, ATSI, class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, (GLBT), disability and chronic illness. Marginalised, powerless and vulnerable to structural and interpersonal violence and abuse, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial. Also face huge challenges such as poverty, homelessness and difficulties accessing employment, health-care and aged care services Gender discrimination across the lifespan has a cumulative effect resulting in a high lifetime rate of violence against older women (Brownell, 2014). Impacts dramatically on the full realization of the human rights of older women (Choi, Brownell & Moldovan, 2015).

3 Human Rights Framework and Violence Against Older Women Violence, in all forms, is a violation of basic human rights. Everyone, regardless of their age, sex, religion, nationality, race, language, relationship, or living arrangements, has the right to feel safe and be safe in public and at home (Queensland Task Force, 2015:6 age added). Rights based framework considers the social context, the marginalisation of and discrimination against older women Recognises that older women are both experiencing and are vulnerable to abuse and violence, on an individual, family, community and societal level.

4 OWN: Research, Activism, Social Justice and Social Change The Older Women s Network (OWN), established in 1987, is a grass roots, feminist organization working for towards social justice and social change. Advocates on behalf of older women Promotes the rights of all older women Lobbies for a fair and equitable allocation of resources, support and services for older women Works to prevent gender and aged based violence and abuse. Works to enhance the participation, community connectedness and social inclusion of older women

5 Research Conducted by OWN Places older women at the centre of the research Creates space where the voices of older women can be heard Records and disseminates the stories told by older women Involves older women at every stage of the research process, through consultation, seminars, workshops Challenges gender and age based stereotypes Develops and builds on strategic on-going relationships and partnerships between older women, service providers and policy makers Puts the issue of older women and violence at the forefront of public debate and policy development. Recommends ways forward, policies and practices

6 The Older Women s Network, NSW Research Program Older Women Speak Out (Mears and Sargent, 2002, Mears, 2003). Prevention of Violence Against Older Women (Mears, 2015) Age Provides no Immunity to Violence (Masonic Centre, 2008) The Disappearing Age (OWN, 2009) It Could Be You: Older Women and Homelessness (McFerron,L 2010) Older Women Ageing Safely in NSW: Progress, Pitfalls and Strategies in Preventing VAOW (Petersham Town Hall, 2010) Older Women Challenge Ageism, Rights, Roadblocks and Resilience (NSW Parliament House, 2012) Wellness Centres: Contribution to older women s health and wellbeing (2014 on-going)

7 Older Women Speak Up 270 older women, a further 100 women completed questionnaires. Demonstrated that violence against older women was compounded by: the effects of past abuse and trauma, poverty, disability and dependency and a culture of silence and stoicism Further exacerbated by ageism and sexism with older women being largely ignored and treated as invisible. VAOW is a serious social problem, with profound impacts on many older women (Morgan Disney,2000, Mears, 2002). Produced a resources booklet of women s stories (Mears, 2000) Ten thousand copies of Older Women Speak Up: Violence in the Home (Mears, 2000), Reprinted twice since then.

8 Support networks are what s needed. Give a woman a chance to speak, and when they hear even one woman s story, it gives them the courage also to speak out. Then you know you are not alone, there are lots of others out there (Mears, 2000:36) It s changed my whole attitude. I don t call it scars. I call it betterment of my life. I feel I ve been empowered. I ve become a real woman. A real woman someone who is independent, who can stand up and say, I don t like this, who can speak up and still do what I want with my life. I don t have to kowtow to anybody (Mears, 2000, p. 36).

9 The Prevention of Violence Against Older Women (POVAOW) Working Party Objectives: to foster a national debate on the issue of violence against older women to develop a comprehensive national strategy to prevent the violence and To secure commitments from governments and service systems to implement the strategy Central to this campaign was the establishment of a research program that would: build on previous research, fill gaps in knowledge, move the research agenda forward, Inform and influence older women, service providers and policy makers.

10 Age Provides no Immunity to Violence 2008 Forum: Age Provides no Immunity to Violence, Masonic Centre, Sydney, February Over 200 participants, aged care, health, housing, community legal and domestic and family violence sectors, and key government Ministers. presented findings from current research and community based projects, brought together older women and key stakeholders identified gaps in knowledge and service provision strategically plan a research program that would focus on these knowledge gaps. The ideas put forward at the forum were translated into an action plan.

11 The Disappearing Age Aim: To update current understandings of violence against older women and make recommendations re policies and practices. Reviewed international and Australian literature Consulted with key stakeholders in the aged care, health, housing, community legal and domestic and family violence sectors. Violence against women does not stop at the age of 45. The violence becomes more complex, insidious and debilitating, compounded by factors such as the financial insecurity of women and a culture of silence and stoicism among older women. Older women often fall between the cracks of laws, policies and programs (OWN, 2009). This highlighted the urgent need to improve the capacity of the domestic violence, aged care and homelessness service systems to provide flexible, collaborative and sensitive support for older women (OWN, 2009). Urgent need to improve the capacity of the domestic violence, aged care and homelessness service systems to provide flexible, collaborative and sensitive support for older women (OWN, 2009) Produced OWN Strategy to Prevent Violence Against Older Women (OWN, 2009)

12 Recommendations: Policy and Practice Family Violence Services Homeless and Social Housing Employment Medical and Health Community Justice and Legal Sectors Recommendations for Improved Collaboration Community Awareness (OWN, 2009)

13 It Could Be You: Older Women and Homelessness Conducted by the OWN NSW in collaboration with Homelessness NSW, and the St Vincent de Paul Society, with support provided by the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. Review of literature, including statistics from homeless services and wide ranging consultations with services providers and older women. Interviewed 30 older women using homeless services and drop in centres;. Most of the women worked all their lives and never expected to be homeless. Key finding: Being female, older, and single is to be at severe risk of becoming homeless, a stark message to all older women (McFerron, 2010).

14 Older Women Ageing Safely in NSW: Progress, Pitfalls and Strategies in Preventing VAOW 2010 Forum held April 2010, Petersham Town Hall. Partners: Homelessness NSW, the Aged-care Rights Service (TARS), The Benevolent Society (TBS) and the NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) Speakers included: Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbut, the Minister for Women, Verity Firth, the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, Women with Disability Australia, Homelessness NSW, the National Violence Against Women Advisory Council and the OWN NSW Theatre Group. 300 participants

15 Older Women Challenge Ageism, Rights, Roadblocks and Resilience 2012 Held at the New South Wales Parliament House, 2012 to examine ways of overcoming discrimination in areas such as jobs, health, incomes, housing and community attitudes. Speakers included the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick the NSW Minister for Ageing, Andrew Constance, service providers, older women and academics. A sell-out event with a waiting list, with 185 participants.

16 Wellness Centres: Contribution to older women s health and wellbeing Focused on local older women consulting with other local older women about what they needed in order to maintain a sense of wellness and manage the pressures of their lives (Adamson 1997). There are approximately twenty OWN groups and six OWN Wellness Centres located in metropolitan and regional areas in NSW. Bankstown 1994, Northside 1995, Sutherland 2001, Blacktown 2004, Illawarra 2009, Newtown Community and relationship based, affordable, flexible, accessible Understand the complex histories, social contexts, diversity and needs Provide a service specifically designed for older womento improve health and wellbeing and enhance independence and quality of life for older women. This is an ongoing research project and is developing a method for monitoring and assessing wellbeing for participants in OWN Wellness Centre programs and activities (Mears et al 2013).

17 Contribution The research: Supports a paradigm shift from understanding of violence against older women as a personal problem, to a social issue. Recommends ways forward at all levels, family, community and society to redress the past injustices suffered by older women. Makes a powerful case for a fair share of resources to be allocated to older women to redress past injustices suffered by older women. Advocates for structural changes to prevent violence against older women and support older women in dealing with past trauma and abuse.

18 Conclusion Adopting a human rights approach enables us to recognise structural violence and to advocate for polices that enhance the lives of all older people, enabling older persons to live in dignity and security free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse. (United Nations Principles for Older Persons No. 17, adopted by General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991). We are at the very beginning of the implementation of the aged care reforms. It is a time that offers us a significant opportunity. One that can ensure the human rights of all older Australians in receipt of aged care services are protected and their choices respected (AHRC, 2012). All older people have a right to freedom from violence and exploitation, and the right to dignity and respect (van Bavel et al., 2010, UN 2015).

19 References Brownell, P 2014 Neglect, abuse and violence against older women: Definitions and research frameworks (Review article). SEEJPH Choi,M., Brownell,P., & Moldovan,S 2015 International movement to promote human rights of older women with a focus on violence and abuse against older women International Social Work, devries,n, Macdonald,G, Mears,J and Netthiem,A (2012) One Life, Two Stories: Nancy de Vries Journey Home, Sydney University Press. McFerron,L (2010) It Could be You: Female, Single, Older and Homeless, Homelessness NSW and OWN NSW.. Mears, J (1997) Gender and Abuse of Older People, Discussion Paper 5, NSW Advisory Committee on Abuse of Older People, Ageing and Disability Department. Mears, J.,2000 Older Women Speak Up:: Violence in the Home, Mears, J. and Sargent, M. 2002, Survival Is Not Enough: Project Report Two for Professionals Mears, J 2003 Violence Against Older Women in Australia: A social issue, not a personal problem, Violence Against Women, Vol 9 No 9 Sept/Oct, Sage, Thousand Oaks Mears, J, Laverty,S and Bazeley,P 2013 Active Ageing, Wellness and Falls Prevention for Older Women: A Scoping Study Conducted on behalf of the Older Women s Network NSW Inc. for the Statewide Women s Health Network Mears J 2015 Violence Against Older Women: Activism, Social Justice and Social Change, Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, DOI: / Mears,J and O Sullivan,M 2015 Submission of the Women s Electoral Lobby NSW and the Older Women s Network NSW to the NSW Legislative Council Inquiry into Elder Abuse in NSW OWN 2009 The Disappearing Age: A strategy to address violence against older women, Older Women s Network, NSW. van Bavel, M., Janssens, K., Schakenraad, W. and Thurlings, N Elder Abuse in Europe: Background and Position Paper. Utrecht, The Netherlands: MOVISIE, Netherlands Centre for Social Development.