• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Sexual abuse of elderly people must be exposed, says UN expert

by Stephen Netto
14/06/2019
in Current Affairs
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0

Image via GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock

As the world prepares to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day this Saturday (15 June), Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, a United Nations (UN) independent human rights expert, mandated with safeguarding the rights of elderly people, stressing that they are often victims of sexual abuse and rape, although it remains rarely detected or reported – even when there are clear warning signs.

Ms Kornfeld-Matte was appointed by the Human Rights Council as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in May 2014.

“The sexual abuse and rape of older persons is a subject rarely discussed, but nevertheless is a reality,” said Ms Kornfeld-Matte in a media statement issued on Thursday (13 June), urging the world at large to “be more attentive and report suspected cases of abuse of older people”.

“Sexual abuse and rape of older persons is still a taboo” and rather “invisible”, she noted, pointing out that “with the ageing of our societies, this problem is expected to grow dramatically”; and that “without enough data, statistics, and studies, we will not have even an estimate of the dimensions involved.”

One of the challenges of sexual abuse is the perpetuation of the myth that strangers are mainly responsible for the act. “Sadly, most abusers are family members, relatives or other confidants typically in caring positions,” she emphasized.

The human rights expert hinted that “negative stereotypes, such as that older persons aren’t sexual beings, their greater dependency on others, potential divided loyalty to staff members or residents, are unique barriers to reporting, detecting and preventing sexual assault in nursing homes”.

However, despite severe health consequences, efforts to address and put a stop to abuse remain inadequate. For instance, Ms Kornfeld-Matte explained that “forensic and other criminal evidence can be lost by mistaken compassion or shame of others who desire to make the older person comfortable instead of calling the police”.

To rectify this, she called on everyone to always be vigilant towards the behavior of an elderly person, and do not stand idle when faced with potential case of abuse.

“Let me reiterate that awareness and attentiveness is critical. Not only relatives and confidants but also staff in hospitals and care facilities must be aware of the existence of sexual assault and that it is their duty as care providers to report alleged or suspected sexual assault in a timely manner,” she highlighted.

At the same time, she proposed for more education, training, as well as data and research to thoroughly address the knowledge gaps around incidence, reporting, investigations, in order to provide better assistance to victims and effective response to this issue.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city
AFP

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok
AFP

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023
AFP

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary
AFP

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income
Labour

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent
Politics

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
高庭驳回迪哥达索取警方录供的刑事动议

CEO of D1 Racing sues a woman to claim S$3 million for “emotional trauma” suffered from being friend-zoned

01/02/2023
Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

01/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
68

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
59

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

June 2019
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« May   Jul »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz