Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust organised a senior citizens’ meeting to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022. The event, which took place at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall on Saturday (June 11), aimed to inspire elders to voice their issues if they face abuse in any form.
The well-attended event saw the presence of dignitaries such as Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon, Auckland Council’s Seniors Advisory Panel member Gayle Marshall, President Auckland Indian Association Dhansukh Lal, President New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) Narendra Bhana and Vishwa Sharma from Shanti Niwas among many others.
Founder and Chairperson of Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust Jeet Suchdev said, "It was overwhelming to see around 200 seniors turning up for the event. We tried to create awareness among elders that if they are being abused for any reason, they should not hesitate and express themselves and take help from the right agencies."
The event also saw cultural performances and a skit on the issue enjoyed by the guests as they relished some delicious food.
Expressing his experience of being part of the afternoon, Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon said, “It was quite a well-attended world elder abuse awareness day celebration by esteemed diaspora organisation Bhartiya Samaj. Great work by Jeet Suchdev to support our senior citizens and look after all their needs."
For the uninitiated, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) happens each year on June 15. It was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), which first established the commemoration in June 2006. It represents the one day in the year when the world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on some of our older generations.