As part of this year’s marking of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June, at the UN Headquarters in New York, a 2018 Rosalie S. Wolf memorial award was given to the Red Cross of Serbia employees Ms. Natasa Todorovic and Dr. Milutin Vracevic.

The International Rosalie Wolf Memorial Award is presented at the Global level, annually by INPEA to “an individual who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to the ideals of Rosalie Wolf to prevent and reduce elder abuse and promote awareness through one or more of the following: research, education, policy, practice.”

INEPA is International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse, who established World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June in 2006 and whose initiative made it an event on the United Nations calendar since 2011. In the Republic of Serbia it is being observed since 2007, following the Red Cross of Serbia initiative.

The Red Cross of Serbia conducted several research studies with a view of raising public awareness on ageing and older people, but also on elder abuse, as well as to provide evidence based recommendations for public policy that should improve the quality of life of older people in Serbia. Natasa Todorovic and Milutin Vracevic have been co-authors on the following publications:

“Elder abuse: a study on domestic abuse”

“Introduction to ageing and human rights of older people, pilot research study on financial elder abuse”

“Community-based home care Minimum standards for home helpers and home care volunteers”

„Well-kept family secret – elder abuse“

„Older people in Rural Areas“

„Ageing in Cities“

Milutin Vracevic was invited by United Nations to participate in the experts meeting on prevention of abuse of older women, organised in November 2013 in the UN New York Headquarters. In June 2014 he participated in the fifth session of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing in the UN New York Headquarters, where he spoke about financial elder abuse.

Natasa Todorovic was invited to give a statement for 15 of June to the United Nations in New York on prevention of financial abuse of older women last year, as well as to provide a video-statement this year, as Serbia is one of the first countries in the world that started marking 15th of June thanks to the Red Cross of Serbia initiative. This date has been marked since 2006. In the world and in Serbia since 2007.

Upon the invitation by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Natasa Todorovic participated in a Ministerial Conference in Lisbon, Portugal last year, speaking about ageing with dignity as a foundation for public policy.