The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for the protection and respect of the rights of the elderly.

“With the International Day of Older Persons celebrated yesterday (on Friday)‚ it is important to note and acknowledge that the rights of this vulnerable group is not only recognised by the South African Constitution and the Older Persons Act‚ but also in the international arena.

“It is for this reason that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) decided to include a Strategic Focus area on the Rights of Older Persons in the scope of its work‚” the SAHRC said in a statement.

 It added: “In celebration of International Older Persons Day‚ the SAHRC calls on government‚ private sector and all other stakeholders to join hands and promote and protect the rights of older persons.

“This call is informed by the work the SAHRC has been doing in monitoring the implementation of both the Constitutional right to equality and other supporting legislation‚ and the complaints that the Commission continues to receive and investigate on the treatment of our older generation.

 “The call is also based on the findings we made following our recent investigation into the systemic violations of rights of older persons. The investigations found‚ among others‚ that:

•    The social grant is not enough to alleviate the levels of poverty experienced by older persons who are often responsible for taking care of themselves and their dependents

•    Older persons usually face financial abuse from dependent family members who want their money

•    Older persons are experiencing abuse from members of their communities who should be supporting and protecting them.

•    The Older Persons Act created a grey area which often resort non-registration of residential facilities which in most cases result in abuse of older persons.

•    Safety and security in residential care facilities are a major concern. There have been incidences where older persons have died in fires.

•    HIV and AIDS testing and treatment is inaccessible to older persons as it is often assumed that older persons are not sexually active and are thus not at risk of contracting HIV and AIDS

“As stated in the recommendations in the SAHRC Investigative Hearing Report‚ the SAHRC would like to use this day to encourage government to move quick to amend the Older Persons Act to ensure that rights of older persons are adequately protected.

“We still believe that there must be co-operation and co-ordination between departments in order to ensure standards and norms pertaining to care of older persons are developed and enforced.”

“It is saddening that we still hear of incidents in which older persons are attacked and at times raped. Both government and communities must put measures in place to ensure the safety and protection of older persons‚ including those is far-flung villages.”

The organisation called on government to acknowledge the recommendation made in the SAHRC Investigative Hearing Report and support the monitoring process the commission would be embarking upon.