Today we come together to commemorate the World Day for Awareness of Abuse and Mistreatment in Old Age and reflect on an alarming reality that affects our society: abuse and mistreatment of our elders. As the adult population increases around the world, it is essential that we come together and address this issue head-on, ensuring respect and dignity for our loved ones at their most vulnerable.

The importance of this day lies in raising awareness about the various forms of abuse and mistreatment that older people face in their homes, in care institutions and in society in general . Abuse can manifest itself in many ways, including physical, psychological, financial abuse, and neglect. All of these forms of abuse have a detrimental impact on their quality of life and well-being.

To address this problem effectively, it is essential to understand that it is not the responsibility of the victims alone, but of the entire society. We need to come together to promote a collective attitude change towards older people, fostering empathy, respect and solidarity . We must recognize and value the contributions they have made throughout their lives and work together to ensure their well-being and safety.

It is crucial to strengthen systems of protection and support for older people, ensuring that effective mechanisms are in place to detect, report and respond to abuse and mistreatment. This involves providing adequate training to health professionals, social workers and carers, so that they can identify signs of abuse and take appropriate action. We must also establish safe and accessible reporting channels , where victims and witnesses feel safe reporting cases of abuse, without fear of retaliation.

Education also plays a fundamental role in preventing abuse and mistreatment in old age. From a very early age we must teach children and young people respect and value the elderly, challenging negative stereotypes and promoting a positive vision of aging . Schools, educational institutions and the media have a responsibility to spread a positive image of older people, acknowledging their wisdom and experience, and promoting inclusion and active ageing.

Thus, on this day we must unite especially as a society to collectively combat this problem and guarantee that our elders live with the dignity and respect they deserve.