Commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2016

Every June 15th, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to bring attention to the issue of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Today, ACL joins communities and leaders from around the world in speaking up for elder justice.

Writing for the ACL blog, ACL Administrator Kathy Greenlee reflected on “the peaks and valleys on our collective journey towards elder justice” noting that this is the last WEAAD she will commemorate in her capacity as Assistant Secretary for Aging. She called for continued national dialogue about the value of older adults, support for frontline programs that interact with victims and survivors, and collective action rooted in the belief that we can all “make a difference in the fight against the epidemic of elder maltreatment.”

In a statement commemorating WEAAD, United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark emphasized the importance of including older women in the discussion on global gender-based violence. “Ensuring that women of all ages are included in all aspects of development and supported as contributors to their families, communities and nations will bring us closer to realizing the ideal of ‘leaving no one behind,’” Clark wrote.

All day, ACL will be compiling photos of the many ways people are commemorating WEAAD. Follow us at storify.com/ACLgov/weaad2016 and send your own WEAAD photos to aclinfo@acl.hhs.gov or tweet using #WEAAD2016.

Visit acl.gov/weaad for resources, materials, and tips to take action against elder abuse.