More than two million senior citizens in KP need greater protection: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

PESHAWAR, Jun 15 (APP):Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, leaders from the human rights, women’s rights and public sectors have emphasized the need for stronger protection, dignity, inclusion and wellbeing of senior citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Observed annually on 15 June, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse in 2006 and officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011.

The day seeks to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and exclusion experienced by older persons and promotes efforts to safeguard their rights and wellbeing.

According to data compiled by the Foundation for Ageing and Inclusive Development (FAID), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a population of 40,641,120, of which 2,085,727 persons are aged 60 years and above, representing 5.13 percent of the province’s population.

Among them, 1,168,984 are older men, 916,723 are older women and 20 are transgender persons. The figures highlight the growing significance of ageing as a public policy issue and the need for responsive healthcare, social protection, legal safeguards, and age-friendly services.

Sumera Shams, Chairperson of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW), highlighted the unique challenges faced by older women.

“Older women often face a double burden of age and gender discrimination, alongside economic insecurity, social isolation, limited mobility and barriers to healthcare, social protection, and legal support. Widows, women living alone and those in remote rural areas are particularly vulnerable. Traditional social norms, low literacy levels, inadequate transportation, and limited digital access further restrict their ability to benefit from available services and opportunities.

As our population ages, we must strengthen community-based support systems and ensure older women’s needs and voices are reflected in policies and programmes so they can live with dignity, security, and respect,” said Dr. Sumera Shams.

Rizwanullah Shah, Coordinator of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), stressed that elder abuse must be recognized and addressed as a human rights issue.

“Elder abuse is a human rights issue. Older persons have the right to live free from neglect, exploitation, violence, and discrimination. Strengthening implementation of existing laws and improving access to justice and protection mechanisms must remain a priority,” he stated.

Qamar Naseem, Human Rights Activist and Program Manager Blue Veins, highlighted the need for stronger implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, 2014.

“Respect for elders must go beyond cultural values and become a public policy priority. More than a decade after the enactment of the KP Senior Citizens Act, important implementation gaps remain. Older persons deserve accessible services, stronger protections, and institutions that actively safeguard their rights and dignity,” he said.

The leaders stressed that with more than two million senior citizens living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ageing must be recognized as a growing public policy priority.

They highlighted the importance of fully implementing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, reconstituting the Senior Citizens Welfare Council, strengthening age-friendly healthcare services, and enhancing welfare and protection mechanisms for older persons, particularly older women.