DATE: 14 June 2024 (Friday)
TIME: 10:45–12:00 EDT – find your timezone

Conflicts and violence are currently escalating globally. By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in every 6 people will be aged 65 or over, increasing the vulnerability experienced by older persons to violence. The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons has noted a surge in elder abuse, exacerbated by a confluence of crises, including the recent pandemic, climate change, and armed conflicts. Particularly, conflicts exacerbate existing human rights concerns for older persons, aggravating violence, abuse, and neglect during these volatile situations.

Many older persons living in conflict zones face heightened risks of violence, abuse, and neglect compared to other community members. Due to additional vulnerabilities such as reduced mobility, health challenges, and disability, older persons may be unable to flee violence, unlike many younger people in similar situations. Moreover, older persons often experience ageism and discrimination, leading to their needs being overlooked during humanitarian or crises response services. Such situations further impede access by older persons to nutrition, healthcare, and other essential needs necessary for their survival.

According to a report by Human Rights Watch, in many ongoing conflicts waged between nonstate actors such as political insurgents, international terrorist groups, and other illicit groups, older persons are increasingly targeted for violent acts, including unlawful killings, executions, rape, and destruction of their livelihoods. They often cannot access remedial services to seek legal counsel or redress. Protective laws for older persons are scarce in conflict situations, enabling perpetrators of violence to act with impunity.

As conflict and violence persist, elder abuse will continue to escalate, targeting the most vulnerable, including older women, Indigenous groups, refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and migrants. Meaningful engagement and participation of older persons in conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives are crucial to achieving the targets in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

Objectives:
 

• Raise awareness and foster action to combat violence, abuse, and neglect against older persons in conflict settings.
• Promote innovative approaches to meet the diverse needs of older persons, enhancing their access to essential healthcare services, including mental health support, nutrition, and other basic necessities, within humanitarian response frameworks.
• Facilitate discussions around the development of inclusive policies and strategies aimed at preventing and addressing elder abuse within conflict contexts.
• Explore avenues for engaging stakeholders, including older persons themselves, in conflict resolution efforts and ensuring their meaningful participation in initiatives for civilian protection, humanitarian response, conflict prevention, resolution, reconciliation, reconstruction, and peacebuilding.
• Advocate for enhanced data collection and needs assessment methodologies tailored to effectively address the multifaceted needs of older persons in conflict situations.