NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has called for stronger international efforts to protect older people, particularly those with disabilities.
The call to safeguard older people’s rights, dignity, and full participation in society was made by Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, on behalf of the Group of Friends on Ageing and Sustainable Development, in New York.
The event was held on the sidelines of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Alwasil said elder abuse is a global issue requiring a collective response, adding that about 46 percent of people aged 60 and above live with some form of disability.
One in six older people experiences abuse, with higher risks for those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, he said.
