On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, said that age must not be an obstacle for a dignified and safe life. Still, we are witnessing that violence against the elderly is present in our society, although it remains hidden within a family and reaching public mainly through media, but only when it gets the extreme form.

Results of the recent research of Commissioner for the Protection of Equality regarding constitution of indicators, reveal, among other things, that almost half of surveyed persons who are 85 years old and older have difficulties in accessing health care institutions and that almost one third of persons older than 75 years of age are facing barriers when moving along the street, using public transportation or public areas.

“In order to protect the elderly from abuse and violence, it is very important to have permanent education of employees in the social and health care system, police and judiciary system. The role of civil sector is also important since it should attach particular attention to activities aimed at decreasing social exclusion and isolation of older persons, because those are violence risk factors”, stressed the Commissioner.

Key segment of prevention of violence against the elderly, but also of respect and understanding, should be the educational system, where, among other things, younger generations will be raised in a spirit of inter-generational solidarity and tolerance, concluded Commissioner Janković.