Breaking the Silence on Elder Abuse in the Arab Region

Elder abuse is any action that causes harm or distress to an older person. It can take many forms. Some types of abuse may be less visible, such as threats, humiliation, intimidation, or deliberately isolating someone from family and friends. Other forms may be more obvious, including physical or sexual abuse. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most hidden forms of violence worldwide. In the Arab region, it remains almost entirely out of public view and policy discussion. As the population of older persons (60+) is set to nearly triple to 94 million by 2050, the region is entering a demographic moment that demands urgent attention. In the region, elder abuse remains one of the most understudied, underreported, and often unacknowledged topics. The UN ESCWA–UNFPA report Breaking the Silence: Addressing Elder Abuse in the Arab Region looks at how elder abuse manifests, why it remains concealed, and what must change.

The report draws on first-hand conversations with older people, their families and people supporting them in three countries across the region. What it shows is that elder abuse is not just something that happens behind closed doors or within individual families. It is often shaped by much wider pressures.

Financial hardship, the strain of caring for an older relative, conflict and displacement, and social expectations can all create situations where abuse is more likely to happen, and harder to talk about. In some cases, harmful behaviour becomes so common that it is simply accepted as normal. As one caregiver in Lebanon put it:

“With overwhelming personal and financial burdens, caregivers often unintentionally fail to provide adequate medical care or emotional support. This type of neglect, although harmful, is rarely seen as abusive.”

Abuse stays behind closed doors

The report’s case studies from Lebanon, Jordan, and Yemen reveal a painful reality, with older persons experiencing emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and physical violence, but most of it remains hidden. Emotional abuse is widespread, where neglect – for example, the failure to meet an older person’s basic needs- is often dismissed as a normal part of ageing. The findings of the report indicate financial exploitation is not uncommon, especially where older persons depend on family members for income or where relatives give themselves the right to claim the older person’s assets.

Stigma and fear of shame can make it much harder for older people to speak up about abuse. This can leave abuse hidden for longer and deepen the harm it causes. In many communities, even without realising it, protecting family reputation outweighs protecting older persons. As one woman in Jordan explained: 

“Abuse remains hidden because families fear shame or damaged reputation if mistreatment becomes public knowledge. Many cases never reach authorities.”

When protection systems fail, older persons pay the highest price

Conflict and displacement can make these risks even greater. In Yemen, many older people living in displacement camps struggle to get enough food, have lost the family members or caregivers they once relied on, and have little or no access to the services and support they need. One older man in Yemen described the harsh choices families make: 

“Families neglect their older family members because they cannot afford adequate food or medicines, and everyone prioritises children or able-bodied adults for survival.”

These voices remind us that elder abuse is not only about individual acts, but it is also about systems that don’t provide essential support to families, caregivers, and older persons.

Progress is visible, but protection must be strengthened

The report has also highlighted some encouraging progress. Across the Arab region, many countries have taken steps to better recognise and protect the rights of older persons. Fifteen constitutions explicitly mention the rights of older persons, and several countries have passed laws addressing their welfare. The Jordanian constitution has gone a bit further by explicitly prohibiting elder abuse.  

 But recognition on paper is only a starting point. More is needed to turn these commitments into meaningful protection in older people’s everyday lives.

Other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Algeria, criminalise abandonment or exploitation, and some prohibit placing older persons in institutions without consent. These are important steps. But gaps remain as most laws do not define elder abuse clearly, do not address legal capacity, and do not distinguish between types of perpetrators.

 The findings of the report also showed that reporting systems are often inaccessible or fragmented. In some countries elder abuse is reported through gender‑based violence platforms, which risks excluding older men. Government initiatives exist, for example specialised police units and shelters and awareness campaigns, but they are uneven and often limited in reach, especially to remote and rural communities. Finally, the Report finds that data systems are weak, leaving policymakers without the evidence needed to act.

A public health issue hiding in plain sight

Elder abuse is not only a social or legal issue, but it is also a public health issue. Elder Abuse increases the risk of depression, anxiety, disability, injury, and premature mortality among older people. Neglect can worsen chronic diseases, accelerate functional decline, and increase healthcare use. Yet most healthcare providers in the region receive no training to detect or respond to abuse.

Primary health care is often the first and only point of contact for older persons. Without integrating elder abuse screening, referral pathways, and provider training into health systems, most cases will continue to go unnoticed.

A regional roadmap for action

The recent report outlines six objectives that together form a practical agenda for change, one that must be tailored to the diverse social, economic, and legal contexts across the Arab region.

1. Enforceable legislation. Countries need clear definitions of elder abuse, alignment with international frameworks, and laws that recognize older persons’ autonomy and legal capacity.

2. Accessible and age‑sensitive reporting systems. Reporting channels must be safe, anonymous, culturally appropriate, and available in rural and underserved areas. Training for police, healthcare providers, and social workers is essential.

3. Shifting cultural perceptions. Breaking silence requires engaging religious leaders, community figures, and media to promote intergenerational respect and challenge ageism.

4. Building caregiver capacity. Caregivers, both family and professional, need training in dignified care, stress management, dementia support, and ethical caregiving. Peer networks can reduce isolation and burnout.

5. Strengthening social protection. Families need financial, psychological, and social support. Recognizing caregivers in social protection systems, expanding pensions, and improving access to long‑term care can reduce pressures that lead to neglect.

6. Building data and research systems. Countries need unified data platforms, stronger statistical capacity, and academic research to understand prevalence, risk factors, and reporting barriers and design evidence-based responsive policies?

A moment of possibility

The Arab region is ageing, making it increasingly important to think differently about the place of older people in our societies. Older people are not simply recipients of care. They are often an important source of support for their families; caring for grandchildren, helping at home, sharing their experience and providing financial support when they can. 

This makes tackling elder abuse a concern for all of society. Abuse may never be eliminated entirely, but much more can be done to reduce it and the harm it causes. That means making it easier to speak about abuse, strengthening laws and services, improving the data needed to understand the problem, and supporting families and caregivers under pressure. Above all, it means recognising older people not only as people whose rights and dignity must be protected, but as valued members of families and communities whose contributions strengthen society across generations.

The evidence is clear. The voices of older persons are clear. The urgency is undeniable. 

It is time to break the silence.