HelpAge International [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.helpage.org/newsroom/press-room/press-releases/
Posted: 14 June 2016
HelpAge calls for convention to protect rights of older people near end of life
Older people are campaigning for the right to be free from violence and abuse under international law on this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Wednesday 15 June…

…Government responses to elder abuse have been inadequate around the world. In 2014, a WHO, UNODC and UNDP Global Status Report on Violence Prevention reported that of the 133 countries surveyed only 17% reported any survey data on elder abuse and, of these, the majority were in high-income countries[2].

“The obligation of governments to protect older people from abuse is not clearly stated in existing international human rights law. As a result, national laws to protect older people from violence and abuse are inconsistent and patchy, with some older people having little or no legal protection, no access to support services or to justice,” said Sleap.

Despite the violence and abuse faced by many older people around the world, a lack of data exacerbates the problem.
“Elder abuse can be dangerously invisible as it is often a taboo subject and older people are often reluctant to report the abuse they are subjected to,” said Sleap.

“We are calling for better data on violence and abuse to tackle this,” she said.

Age Demands Action campaigners will be calling for their governments to attend the seventh session of the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing in December prepared to talk about what they would like to see in a new convention on older people’s rights…
…HelpAge International believes the time has come for an international convention on the rights of older people in order to ensure we live the end of lives and die with dignity.