Tina Ambani (Photo: Harmonyindia.org)
Citing a US study that revealed that 84 per cent of all elder abuses — ranging from neglect and isolation to financial restrictions — went unreported, Ambani called for strengthening of family bonds and social structures.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ariela Lowenstein from Israel in her keynote address: ‘‘Fear of retaliation, social embarrassment, being labelled as demented and the reluctance to drag their wards into legal tangles, prevent the elderly from speaking up.’’ Lowenstien quoted a study in Israel where 18.4 per cent of 2,500 senior citizens interviewed admitted to being victims of abuse.
Elaborating on how ethnic and cultural differences among countries affect the nature of abuse, she said while in Norway it takes the form of family disharmony, in Sweden it’s elder dumping, while in India the most common form is disrespect shown by the daughter-in-law.
S.D.Gokhale, President - International Longevity Centre, Pune declared that there is a thin line between crime and abuse.
The outcome of the conference will be submitted to the World Conference of International Federation on Ageing to be held in Copenhagen in June. Also, the UN has designated June 15 as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’.
India shows the way
While elder abuse seems to be a global phenomena, most countries, including the more developed ones like Australia and Singapore, seem to be looking to India for answers.
"India is one of the few countries to have a legislation to prevent this. We are here to study the law and find out how it can be adapted in our own country,’’ says Judy Hogben, executive director, Department of Community Development. She puts the figure of elders being abused in her country at 12.8 per cent, compared to India’s 4.9 per cent. "But since this is 12.8 per cent of 3.7 million seniors, compared to India’s 52.5 million seniors, the numbers of abused are much higher here."
Unescap social reform officer Osama Rajkhan Social Reform Officer, who is from Saudi Arabia, feels India is in a unique position compared to most of the world where societies are rapidly ageing. "India has a predominance of young people. However, this is slated to change in the next 10 to 15 years, when the young population will be at par with the elderly. The problem is the changing attitude of this young generation."
April 21, 2006
INDIA: International Roundtable Focusses on Abuse of Elders
For seniors, people from across the globe join hands against an invisible crime
MUMBAI (Yahoo! India News), April 21, 2006:
THE crimes might vary, but they have a similar face — an invisible one. The fact that the elderly face abuse in some form or the other, is something that does not follow the differences of society and economy.
In an attempt to find solutions or roadmaps to counter the growing malady, representatives from Singapore, Australia, Israel, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as those from United Nations and the host country, India, came together for a three-day South-Asia Pacific Roundtable on Elder Abuse. The programme was inaugurated at Yashwantrao Academy for Development and Administration (YASHADA) on Thursday.
Tina Ambani, founder Harmony, called it an issue that transcends geographical, socio-economic and cultural boundaries and rued the fact that it also remained one of the most under-reported crimes globally.
Tina Ambani (Photo: Harmonyindia.org)
Citing a US study that revealed that 84 per cent of all elder abuses — ranging from neglect and isolation to financial restrictions — went unreported, Ambani called for strengthening of family bonds and social structures.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ariela Lowenstein from Israel in her keynote address: ‘‘Fear of retaliation, social embarrassment, being labelled as demented and the reluctance to drag their wards into legal tangles, prevent the elderly from speaking up.’’ Lowenstien quoted a study in Israel where 18.4 per cent of 2,500 senior citizens interviewed admitted to being victims of abuse.
Elaborating on how ethnic and cultural differences among countries affect the nature of abuse, she said while in Norway it takes the form of family disharmony, in Sweden it’s elder dumping, while in India the most common form is disrespect shown by the daughter-in-law.
S.D.Gokhale, President - International Longevity Centre, Pune declared that there is a thin line between crime and abuse.
The outcome of the conference will be submitted to the World Conference of International Federation on Ageing to be held in Copenhagen in June. Also, the UN has designated June 15 as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’.
India shows the way
While elder abuse seems to be a global phenomena, most countries, including the more developed ones like Australia and Singapore, seem to be looking to India for answers.
"India is one of the few countries to have a legislation to prevent this. We are here to study the law and find out how it can be adapted in our own country,’’ says Judy Hogben, executive director, Department of Community Development. She puts the figure of elders being abused in her country at 12.8 per cent, compared to India’s 4.9 per cent. "But since this is 12.8 per cent of 3.7 million seniors, compared to India’s 52.5 million seniors, the numbers of abused are much higher here."
Unescap social reform officer Osama Rajkhan Social Reform Officer, who is from Saudi Arabia, feels India is in a unique position compared to most of the world where societies are rapidly ageing. "India has a predominance of young people. However, this is slated to change in the next 10 to 15 years, when the young population will be at par with the elderly. The problem is the changing attitude of this young generation."
Tina Ambani (Photo: Harmonyindia.org)
Citing a US study that revealed that 84 per cent of all elder abuses — ranging from neglect and isolation to financial restrictions — went unreported, Ambani called for strengthening of family bonds and social structures.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ariela Lowenstein from Israel in her keynote address: ‘‘Fear of retaliation, social embarrassment, being labelled as demented and the reluctance to drag their wards into legal tangles, prevent the elderly from speaking up.’’ Lowenstien quoted a study in Israel where 18.4 per cent of 2,500 senior citizens interviewed admitted to being victims of abuse.
Elaborating on how ethnic and cultural differences among countries affect the nature of abuse, she said while in Norway it takes the form of family disharmony, in Sweden it’s elder dumping, while in India the most common form is disrespect shown by the daughter-in-law.
S.D.Gokhale, President - International Longevity Centre, Pune declared that there is a thin line between crime and abuse.
The outcome of the conference will be submitted to the World Conference of International Federation on Ageing to be held in Copenhagen in June. Also, the UN has designated June 15 as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’.
India shows the way
While elder abuse seems to be a global phenomena, most countries, including the more developed ones like Australia and Singapore, seem to be looking to India for answers.
"India is one of the few countries to have a legislation to prevent this. We are here to study the law and find out how it can be adapted in our own country,’’ says Judy Hogben, executive director, Department of Community Development. She puts the figure of elders being abused in her country at 12.8 per cent, compared to India’s 4.9 per cent. "But since this is 12.8 per cent of 3.7 million seniors, compared to India’s 52.5 million seniors, the numbers of abused are much higher here."
Unescap social reform officer Osama Rajkhan Social Reform Officer, who is from Saudi Arabia, feels India is in a unique position compared to most of the world where societies are rapidly ageing. "India has a predominance of young people. However, this is slated to change in the next 10 to 15 years, when the young population will be at par with the elderly. The problem is the changing attitude of this young generation."
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