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United Nations Webinar – The Impact of Covid-19 on Violence, Abuse and Neglect of Older Persons

June 16, 2020 @ 10:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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The UN General Assembly designated 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (res. A/ RES/66/127). Elder abuse is one of the most hidden and underreported human rights violations.

COVID-19 has put a spotlight on older persons including distressing reports of instances of abuse and neglect of older persons in long term care institutions. Not only older persons are at a high risk of serious illness and mortality, but they are also stigmatized through abusive language in both the conventional and social media.

Despite the lack of reliable data on the actualscale of elder abuse in the community where the majority of older persons live, emerging reports reveal the high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic both in the rise of cases of abuse and in the disruption of the services and protective measures.

The UN Secretary-General in his Policy BriefThe Impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons warned thatmeasures to restrict movement may trigger greater incidence of violence against older persons and all types of abuse –physical, emotional, financial and sexual as well as neglect.

The lack of adequate legislation at national level to protect the rights of older persons and the absence of a dedicated internationally agreed legal framework, contribute to the vulnerability of older persons and may have contributed to the inadequate responses to the COVID-19 crisis and that these gaps must be filled.WEAAD 2020 is dedicated to H.E. Mr. Martin Garcia Moritan. Ambassador of Argentina to the UN, for his dedicated pursuit of the promotion of the Human Rights of older persons.

Co-Moderators

  • Ms. Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief Program on Ageing Unit, United Nations (UN DESA)
  • Monica Ferro, Director, Geneva Office, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Opening Remarks

  • Mr. Alejandro Verdier, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentine to the UN in NY
  • Robert Muller, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN, Geneva

Members of the Groups of Friends of Older Persons, UN, NY and Geneva

Panelists

  • Ms. Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on The Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons
  • Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of Department of Social Determinants of Health, WHO

WHO’s New Guidance on Elder Abuse and COVID-19

  • Jilenne Gunther, AARP Bank Safe

Fighting Financial Exploitation

  • Kikelomo (Kiki) Laniyonu Edwards, Dementia Care Society of Nigeria

COVID-19: Increasing the Risk of Abuse of Persons with Dementia

  • Michael S. Mulvery, University of Ottawa

An Outbreak of Ageist Discourse in Social Media

08.00—09.00 EST (NY)

14.00—15.00 CET (Geneva)

10.00pm—11.00pm EST (Australia)

Downloadable Flyer: WEAAD 16 June 2020 Final

Details

Date:
June 16, 2020
Time:
10:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Website:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ArmccdPbTGeuqfB2kdinyw

Venue

Webinar
View Venue Website

Organizer

United Nations