One in six over-60s faces abuse globally, observatory warns

Local pensionersTop News One in six over-60s faces abuse globally, observatory warns One In Six Over 60s Faces Abuse Globally, Observatory Warns Relevant News One in six over-60s faces abuse globally, observatory warns 15 June 2026 Rescued barn owl found nesting with four chicks near Mammari 15 June 2026 Britain announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s 15 June 2026 Newsroom 15 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus’s Elderly Observatory is calling for stronger protection and prevention mechanisms to combat elder abuse, marking today’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day with a statement that accuses the state of decades of political inaction. Citing World Health Organisation data, the Observatory said one in six people over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse globally, and that the issue receives insufficient attention despite its scale. Abuse of older people is not limited to physical violence, the Observatory said, but also encompasses verbal and psychological abuse, sexual and financial exploitation, neglect, indifference and isolation. Most incidents occur in victims’ private environments, with perpetrators including family members, domestic helpers and carers, though cases of mistreatment in care facilities have also been reported. The Observatory attributed the difficulty of reporting such incidents to victims’ emotional, financial or practical dependence on their abusers, fear of retaliation, and doubt that their complaints would be taken seriously. The public is urged to remain alert to signs of abuse, which can be physical — including bruises, injuries and burns — or psychological, such as sudden behavioural changes, sadness, confusion and social isolation. The Observatory directed sharp criticism at the state, describing “political inaction, institutional deficit and shallow benefit-driven or spasmodic policy decisions that have left problems untouched for decades.” Among its recommendations, the Observatory called for stronger legal protection for victims, awareness and prevention programmes, more intensive inspections of care facilities, and the creation of shelters for elderly people who have suffered abuse. The Observatory concluded that protecting the lives and dignity of older people “is a fundamental right and the minimum duty of a law-abiding democracy, while continued indifference constitutes an act of moral complicity.” (information from CNA) Read more: Cyprus population ages four years in a decade as Eurostat data shows shrinking youth Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Rescued barn owl found nesting with four chicks near Mammari Britain announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s Driver injured in Limassol road rage assault, suspect at large Cyprus banks shut 370 branches and cut 4,634 jobs in a decade, ECB data shows Paphos-Limassol motorway tunnel closed for works daily until June 19 Nine killed, historic monastery on fire as Ukraine faces major Russian attacks TEPAK plans €104m second campus on old Limassol Hospital site Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.