Serbia marks the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Protecting elderly people against violence and the adequate punishment of perpetrators is an imperative of the social responsibility for each country. In order to improve the position of elderly people, as well as other vulnerable social groups, the principle of respect, diversity, tolerance and non-violence should be promoted more in the society. It is especially important that this principle becomes a behaviour model and spurs young people to action, because only in this way can we improve intergenerational solidarity – said Suzana Paunović, Director of the Office for Human and Minority Rights at the event held in Sremska Mitrovica on the occasion of marking the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The event took place under the slogan „NO to violence, YES to intergenerational solidarity!“
„The Serbian government has recognized the importance of combating violence against elderly people in our society, and in this way, it wants to draw public attention to the violence and neglect that our oldest citizens face,“ Ms Paunović underlined.
She also said that the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, which entered into force in June 2017, contributed to the better and more efficient protection of all victims of domestic violence, including the elderly, adding that there was still work to be done in this field.
Ms. Paunović went on to say that accepting the fact that the perpetrator was a family member was the biggest problem in dealing violence against elderly, and that it is precisely because of that that we should not be silent when we notice that kind of violence.
Apart from Suzana Paunović, Robert Čoban, Director of the Color Press Group, Professor Ranko Raičević, PhD, Chairman of the Society for Neurology, Nadežda Satarić, Head of the Power of Friendship – Amity Citizen Association, as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and the town of Sremska Mitrovica spoke at the event.
The United Nations marks 15th June as the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Serbia, just like any UN member, also marks this important date.