"COVID-19 Spread Reveals Weak Social Safety Net for Elderly"

Chairperson Choi Young-ae of the National Human Rights Commission Statement
"Need for Social Safety Nets for Elderly in Isolation Situations such as Social Distancing"

Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Today (the 15th) is 'Elder Abuse Prevention Day.' However, the phenomenon of elder abuse and neglect in our society is worsening. In particular, the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has raised concerns that it has exposed the weak social safety net for the elderly in society.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on this day, reports and cases of elder abuse increased significantly from 3,532 in 2014 to 5,188 in 2018. The difficult social atmosphere for the elderly is also reflected in the statistics on elderly suicide rates. As of 2015, the suicide rate among those aged 65 and over was 58.6 per 100,000 people. This is the highest among OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, average 18.8) member countries.

The United Nations (UN) and the World Elder Abuse Awareness Network have designated June 15 every year as 'World Elder Abuse Awareness Day' to prevent elder abuse. Korea has designated this day as Elder Abuse Prevention Day to urge social attention. Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, pointed out in a statement on this day that the elderly are the most vulnerable age group in our society and that a social safety net for them is necessary.

Chairperson Choi said, "The threat of COVID-19 clearly reveals the vulnerabilities of the elderly," adding, "Our society needs to review and strengthen the social safety net to protect vulnerable elderly people, and human rights must be considered a precious value in this process." The COVID-19 fatality rate among people aged 80 and over worldwide is five times the average of all deaths. Chairperson Choi pointed out, "With social distancing and everyday distancing inevitably restricting movement and causing isolation, the possibility of abuse such as violence or neglect against the elderly has increased."

As Chairperson of the Aging Working Group of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Chairperson Choi expressed these concerns and requested that governments worldwide strive to protect the human rights of the elderly. In a letter sent to the UN, Chairperson Choi stated, "Aging does not simply mean getting older but becoming the most vulnerable to social disasters like the current one," and added, "(This) has become an opportunity for the international community to reflect on aging and confirmed the importance of strengthening efforts to promote elderly human rights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.