TORONTO, June 10, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - As part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day celebrations on June 15, 2011, in Toronto, Ontario, an International Forum will give focus to an under-reported and often silent form of abuse - the sexual abuse of older women.
Hosted by the International Federation on Ageing and Ryerson University, with funding provided by the Government of Ontario, the International Forum on the Sexual Safety of Older Women: A Human Rights Approach will bring together professionals in victim's services and the aging fields and make available knowledge of practices and how to best work together. Participants will include organizations and networks involved in elder abuse, those in victim services, health, legal/police, social work, domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse prevention and the media.
Historically, older people have not been considered potential or actual targets of sexual assault and, as a result, may be under recognized as victims. Sexual abuse is the least observed, acknowledged, detected and reported form of elder abuse. A strong knowledge base is required, in the literature and among those who work with this vulnerable population, to build a best practise response and intervention protocol for instances of sexual assault. Journalists and 'the media' in general are essential and valued allies in collective efforts to create greater awareness of the issue of sexual abuse.
Through the vision of Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched in 2006 and gains greater world wide recognition every year through various forums, presentations, workshops and conferences describing and discussing the many complex issues involved in the mistreatment of older persons.
WHERE:
University of Toronto Residence, Conference Facility
89 Chestnut Street, Toronto ON
M5G 1R1
WHEN:
June 15, 2011
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
