The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes which underpin and drive it.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched in 2006 by the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organisation (WHO). It was recognised as a United Nations (UN) Day in 2011. 

Its principal aims are to educate, highlight the abuse of older people, and encourage action against it.  As part of that drive, in 2021 the UN launched the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), a global collaboration bringing stakeholders together with the aim of improving the lives of older people by creating age-friendly environments; combatting ageism; providing integrated care, and securing access to good quality long term care.  

Dr Jane Marriott, Senior Lecturer and deputy Head of Department of Law and Criminology, shares her expertise on this topic to examine the notion of elder abuse, identify the approach of the international community in highlighting it, and consider steps recently taken by the UK in seeking to reduce it.

The full article is available here.