President's Welcome Address

We are excited to welcome you all to this one-day event organised by the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN), in commemoration of the United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day [WEAAD] 2023

The United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed annually on June 15th to shed light on the global issue of elder abuse and promote the rights and well-being of older people. This year, we join the international community once again to raise awareness about this pressing issue and take action to prevent and address elder abuse.

Elder abuse is a multifaceted problem that is affecting millions of older persons around the world. It can take various forms, including physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment. Elder abuse can occur within families, communities, and institutions, cutting across socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic boundaries.

The theme for the United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023 is " Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age - Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses." This theme recognizes the unique challenges faced by older individuals, particularly older women, in relation to gender-based violence and highlights the need for comprehensive policies, legal frameworks, and evidence-based approaches to address this issue.

Gender-based violence refers to any harmful act perpetrated against an individual based on their gender, disproportionately affecting older women and men. This violence can manifest in various forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. Unfortunately, gender-based violence persists throughout a person's life, including in older age.

Older women are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence due to a combination of factors, including ageism, sexism, and discrimination. They may experience abuse within the family, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or abuse in institutional settings. However, such cases often go unnoticed, unreported, or unaddressed, as the focus of gender-based violence prevention efforts tends to be on younger women.

The theme for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023 highlights the importance of developing specific policies and laws that explicitly address gender-based violence in older age. It calls for the recognition of older women as a distinct group at risk and emphasizes the need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms.

To effectively address gender-based violence in older age, it is essential to establish comprehensive policies and programmes, legal frameworks, reporting tools and instruments that protect the rights of older persons. These policies should encompass preventive measures, such as education and awareness campaigns, research and data collection as well as robust reporting mechanisms, investigation processes, and access to justice for survivors.

Moreover, evidence-based responses are crucial in developing targeted interventions and support services. It is necessary to invest in research and data collection to better understand the prevalence, nature, and consequences of gender-based violence in older age. This knowledge can inform the development of effective strategies, programs, and services that address the specific needs of older women experiencing violence.

By addressing gender-based violence in older age through policy, law, and evidence-based responses, societies can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for older persons. This includes promoting gender equality, challenging ageism, and ensuring that the rights and dignity of older individuals are respected and protected.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023, governments, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to engage in discussions, initiatives, and campaigns that raise awareness about gender-based violence in older age. This includes sharing information, promoting dialogue, and advocating for the implementation of legal measures that safeguard the rights and well-being of older Persons. Today we have invited som relevant MDA to shed some light on their roles to prevent gender based violence. We will all also have opportunities to discuss and offer our opinions and recommendations on the issue. We will showcase two of our documentary vedio/ movie campaigns in this regards. You will recall that the main substance of the COSROPIN’s sponsored Rights and Privilege Bill- 2020 is the Prohibition of Discrimination against Older Persons. Part 1, Section 1 of the Bill makes it a crime for any person or institution to discriminate against any person on account of age or disability. To do so is to commit an offence punishable with a fine of two million naira (N2, 000,000.00) if the offender is a corporate organisation and two hundred thousand only (N200, 000.00) if an individual. Still, the prosecution does not preclude the victim from instituting civil legal action. Our bill sought to protect the Rights, priviledges and dignity of older persons in Nigeria.

Ensuing for the basic rights that will make older person live a happy and healthy life and make our society humane. We have done a 13 Series movie about the various elder abuse in the country

We appeal to everyone especially the younger ones to remember that, one day, each one of you will join the ranks of the elderly. Just as we desire to be treated with respect and dignity in our later years, we must extend the same kindness to those who have come before us. By embracing a culture of respect for our elders, we foster a society that cherishes its history, preserves its traditions, and safeguards the future for generations to come. I hope the play by the children today will give insight to this.

Many of our older persons who are here today look forward to a better quality of life. Many are faced with challenges of ill health such as diabetes, Visual and hearing impairment, arthritis, incontinence, High Blood Pressure, depression, dementia, Social Isolation, lack of social and economic support, Abuses in different forms. Many older persons pensions are not paid. It is important we highlight these along with this year’s theme of Gender Based violence. Some of these older persons here do not as much as have portable drinking water in their community. Elder abuse includes denial of rights and privileges. We call on the Government to treat older persons as a class of vulnerable people. Monthly Social Security stipends, free medical by way of Elders Health Insurance and more care/older person’s homes will go a long to improve the quality of life of the very vulnerable and fragile older persons in our communities.

In commemorating this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we appeal to International organisations to assist grass root organisations such as COSROPIN in addressing the pressing issues faced by older persons, particularly regarding gender-based violence and related challenges. Many organisations such as ours strive to protect and uplift the lives of older individuals. Partnership and collaboration support in funding, capacity building and research will make a substantial difference in our efforts. Together, we can build a world where older persons are protected, respected, and valued, free from the scourge of gender-based violence.

We thank organisations such as Voice of Netherlands and Oxfam for their support. Once again, distinguished ladies and gentlemen I welcome you all to this important event, and I look forward to our discussions, deliberations and goodwill messages on how we can collectively address issues of gender-based violence in our older persons moving forward.

Thank you All Senator Dr. Eze Ajoku OFR, President of COSROPIN.