Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says Fijians have been culturally taught to respect and honour elders.
In her message for the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Vuniwaqa says in many instances elder abuse is often swept under the carpet, where victims continue to suffer for fear of being further ostracized or discriminated against.
Vuniwaqa says elder abuse continues to be underestimated and ignored by society.
[Image: Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation]
She says most cases of elder abuse are reported from home settings.
The Minister says no matter how tough the situation may be, there is absolutely no excuse for violence and abuse against our elderly.
She says it is a global social issue which affects the Health and Human Rights of millions of older persons around the world.
The Minister for Women says researchers have confirmed that the abusers are often adult children or other family members.
[Image: Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation]
She says as Fiji grapples with the daily implications of COVID-19, the elderly are at the risk of being more severely impacted.
Vuniwaqa adds that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem and we must get together to put an end to it.
