WE CALLS UPON PEOPLE TO FIGHT AGAINST ELDER MISTREATMENT

Sons and daughters are the usual culprits of abandonment and mistreatment of the elder: this is the case in 54.9 percent of the reports received at the Silver Line 55 5533 5533

Within the framework of the World Day of Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Awareness, the Citizen Council for Safety and Justice in Mexico City called out the population to denounce conducts that endanger the rights and dignity of the elder, particularly in cases of mistreatment and abandonment.

In a virtual conference, Salvador Guerrero Chipres, president of the Citizen Council, pointed out that according to the UN they only report one of every 24 cases of mistreatment against the elder.

He stated that this day, June 15^th, raises awareness about the magnitude of carelessness and harm against the elder within the community and in that sense, it invites people to reinforce care and attention measures because “everyone has the right to dignity and protection, and even more if they are vulnerable communities.”

In coordination with the national and local DIF, SIBISO and other social organizations, the Citizen Council considers this to be an essential topic.

From January to June 2020, through the Silver Line that specializes in support for the elder within the line of action Elder Dignity of the Citizen Council, they have received 579 calls out of which 84 percent reported situations of mistreatment and abandonment.

Children are, according to the reports, the ones who show more violent behaviors against the elder: 54.9 percent of the phone reports are prove of this.

Regarding the type of violence, 16 percent of the total reports carelessness, followed by the combination of physical, emotional and economical violence. One third of the calls were made by the victims; however, help offered by neighbors and acquaintances has contributed to offering help in 30 percent of the cases.

In that sense, Guerrero Chipres acknowledged that the sense of community allows third parties, whether they are relatives or neighbors, to collaborate in a culture of denunciation in order to protect the elder.

Also, he offered the citizens the Silver Line and Trustworthy chat through the WhatsApp 55 5533 5533 that offers free attention 24/7 and channels these cases to the corresponding authority.

“At the line we not only offer legal and psychological aid but we also work in offering an integral attention together with other organizations such as the Federal Health Ministry, the SIBISO and the DIF, both local and national,” he added. Finally, he said that older people are not alone and they have the support of the institutions and the Citizen Council to get the help they need.