On Monday, June 16, 2025, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was marked at the Agricultural Club venue in Belgrade. The event was organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Embassy of the Republic of Austria, with the active participation of the Red Cross of Serbia.

The event brought together numerous participants from institutions, civil society organizations, and the health and social care sectors, with the aim of encouraging the improvement of systems for protecting older persons from violence, neglect, and abuse through joint dialogue and the exchange of experiences.

In the opening addresses, H.E. Christian Ebner, Ambassador of Austria to Serbia, and Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, emphasized the importance of institutional cooperation in combating all forms of discrimination and violence.

Manuel Aigner, Attaché for Labour, Social Protection, Health, and Consumer Protection at the Austrian Embassy, presented a pilot project, aimed at strengthening capacities for recognizing and preventing elder abuse.

The panel discussion titled “Closing the Circle: How Far Have We Come in Addressing Elder Abuse?” featured speakers Prof. Dr. Nebojša Despotović (Zvezdara Clinical Hospital Center), Nataša Todorović (Red Cross of Serbia), Vladimir Antić (Association Argument), and Nadežda Satarić (Amity – Strength of Friendship Association). The panel was moderated by Sandra Perić from the Chamber of Social Protection. Panelists highlighted key challenges and necessary steps toward improving intersectoral cooperation and empowering older persons.

Nataša Todorović particularly emphasized that the risk factors for elder abuse are multiple—from older people’s dependence on others for care, to isolation, poverty, and the widespread presence of ageism in society. She stressed the need for stronger intersectoral cooperation, systemic support for caregivers, and consistent implementation of the law.

The event concluded with the official opening of the exhibition “Stop Violence Against Older People”, created by Verena Schriebl, Kerstin Erlacher, and Elisabeth Margreiter. Through visual storytelling, the exhibition illuminated the realities faced by many older individuals and called for greater social responsibility and change.

Commemorating this date is a significant contribution to raising awareness about elder abuse and serves as a reminder that old age should be a time of dignity, not marginalization.

It is important to note that this date was first observed in Serbia in 2007, following the initiative of the Red Cross of Serbia and the Humanas network.