To ensure protection of rights of older persons in society, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has said it will begin to fish out abusers and violators of senior citizens.

In a message to mark this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the centre warned that anyone caught violating or abusing older persons, who are part of the most vulnerable in society, would face the law and be punished.

The statement signed by the Head, Corporate Affairs, Media and Communications, Omini Oden, noted that the centre has taken steps to eradicate the abuse and violation of rights of older persons in Nigeria, through it’s Anti-Elder Abuse and Community Response mechanisms.

It noted that the theme for this year’s WEAAD, ‘Closing The Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Older Age Policy, Law and Evidence-Based Response,’ aimed at awareness creation on cultural, social, economic and demographic issues that fosters elder abuse and neglect, as well as to voice out opposition against abuse of human rights of older persons.

The agency stated that its strategic partnership in mainstreaming the rescue and remedy of older persons response mechanism in Nigeria, as well as NSCC’s strategic partnership with the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), would also ensure that the rights of older persons are not abused.

It said: “NSCC mounted media campaigns to fundamentally change the negative perception on ageing and older persons, promoting age-friendly environment and services.

“On this special global day, awareness will be centred on cultural, social, economic and demographic issues that fosters elder abuse and neglect, as well as voice out opposition against abuse of human rights of older persons.”