Police, media asked to fight harassment of elderly persons

HUMAN RIGHTS | ELDERLY PERSONS

Civil society has requested the Police and the media to spearhead the fight against abuse and harassment of the elderly.

The call was made on Sunday by The Aged family Uganda (TAFU) in partnership with Kampala International Medical Centre Kasanga (KIMC). This was during celebrations to mark International Elderly Persons Day. The ceremony was held at St Peter's Play Ground, located in Nsambya, Kampala.

TAFU director Fredrick Nyanzi remarked that media and the Police have the ability to stop such behaviour. He said unscrupulous people abuse and injure the elderly.

Nyanzi noted that in 2014, governments around the world accepted a resolution at the economic and social council that recognised elderly persons as "the common source of the justification for and the driving force behind age discrimination."

He observed that the world's focus should also tilt towards finding solutions to the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of the elderly. Nyanzi said the world needs to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by an ageing population.

TAFU seeks to rally senior citizens, and their caregivers, national and local government, academics, and the private sector to exchange ideas about how best to reduce incidents of violence towards elders.

Dr Michael Bayigga Lulume lamented that neglect and abuse of older people is a social norm.

 "Many elderly persons are abused and deprived of their land rights, while others suffer because of self-seeking youth.

Lulume cited records of World Health Organisation, which indicate that the needs of the rich, abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation, are the biggest issues facing senior citizens around the world.

The report shows that 4% to 6% of elderly suffer from some form of abuse, a large percentage of which goes unreported.