WITH the aged being one of the most vulnerable members of society, the Brighton Beach police recently hosted an awareness campaign aimed at educating them about their rights.
The campaign was held at various shopping facilities on The Bluff.
Captain Louise le Roux, Brighton Beach police spokesperson and project manager, said the campaign focused on the rights of the aged and their vulnerability to acts of gender-based violence being imposed upon them.
“The aged remain susceptible to acts or threats of violence, as well as mental, verbal or financial abuse. Their decline in physical strength, energy, poor functionality, and memory makes them more vulnerable to being victims of gender-based violence. Perpetrators are predominantly known to the aged person, however, also those unknown to them,” she said.
Le Roux said during the campaign, those collecting their older persons grant were empowered on their seven rights in accordance with the victims’ charter.
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She said these include the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for their dignity and privacy, the right to be offered and to receive information, to be protected, as well as the right to assistance, compensation and restitution.
Le Roux said together with the support of retired Brighton Beach police reservist, Captain Avril Fabre, they distributed 350 empowerment pamphlets and laminated telephone bookmarks with emergency numbers and support organisations contact details.
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“The contact details of complaints forums were also made available so that the aged can address their grievances of poor service delivery by governmental departments. The pamphlet also promotes the use of the SAPS Crime Stop Tip-Off Line 08600 10111, which can be utilised to anonymously report the abuse or neglect of an aged person,” she said.
Le Roux said through such campaigns, the police is able to achieve its strategic objective of creating awareness on the vulnerability and rights of aged persons within societies.
“The continuous conditioning of the aged on their rights and personal safety remains imperative,” she said.
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