Report finds 191 violations of rights against older people in Turkey in November

* Photo: Pixabay

Having started monitoring the violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination against older people in January 2021, the Association for Aging Studies (Senex) has released its November report.

Based on the data collected by monitoring the printed news from November 1 to 30, 2021, the report found 191 cases of violence, neglect, violation of rights and discrimination targeting the older people in Turkey.

According to the report, most of the cases took place in Istanbul (23), with the remaining cases in Aydın (15), Kocaeli (12), Adana (9), Zonguldak (8), and Denizli and Urfa (7 cases each) respectively.

In the conclusion of the report, the Senex has found it "notable that in November 2021, as in the previous ten months, nearly all of the most affected population in all cases of violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination were poor older adults. Indeed, deaths that occurred due to violence and neglect are very common among poor older adults."

Accordingly, the association has underlined that "it is possible to prevent most such deaths by taking preventative action."

The main findings of the report are as follows:

'33 suspicious deaths'

In November 2021, of all cases detected in Turkey, 43 cases consisted of fatalities caused by unnatural events and neglect such as natural disasters, falls, neglect, work accidents, accidents, fire, sexual assaults, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Also, 33 cases are classified as suspicious deaths. It has been reported that forensic investigations of suspicious deaths are ongoing. On the other hand, we detected 2 suicide cases and 9 murders.

"As a result, it is understood that of all violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination cases against older people in November, 46 percent resulted in death.

Fraud: 'The most common type of violence'

"The third most common type of violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination against older people in November consisted of cases of fraud. We detected 19 cases of fraud which increased compared to the previous month. In November sixteen cases of accidents occurred.

"The number of accidents experienced by older people while using pedestrian crossings were notably high.

"We detected 14 cases of disappearance in November. Among cases of disappearance, 13 older people have been found, while the search for the remaining continues. In addition, 13 cases of fire were reported.

'Physical violence has increased'

"Nine cases of murder were detected in November. Thus, case of physical violence has increased compared to the previous months.

"Additionally, 8 cases of neglect occurred in Turkey in November as some physical environments are not age-friendly.

"Finally, cases with 7 occurrences or less were collected in the 'other' category. These are classified as neglect of care, natural disaster, falls, economic and physical violence, extortion, violation of rights, theft, suicide, arson, shootings, poisoning, and ageism.

'38 percent were against older women'

"Of all cases in November, 38 percent consisted of violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination against older women.

"Older men experienced violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination in 54 percent of all cases. Older couples were victims in 6 percent of all cases. 2 percent of cases involved more than one older person.

"Violence, neglect, violation of rights and discrimination were experienced by people in Turkey between the ages of 50 and 96 during November. Age of victims is unknown in 39 cases.

"The average age of those who experienced violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination was 73.

"Of all violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination cases in November, 19 percent were against people who are under 64 years of age. The rate of those in the 65-74 age group was found to be 38 percent. The rate of older people aged 75+ who experienced violence, neglect, violation of rights, and discrimination was 43 percent." (SD)

* Click here for the full report (in Turkish and English)