Welcome to the United Nations
Stakeholder Group on Ageing
The experiences of older women in emergencies, be due to climate change or conflict, are often overlooked by humanitarian actors, with negative consequences for their wellbeing and that of their families and communities. Evidence has shown that in situations of forced displacement, for example, older women face increased risks to elder abuse and abandonment due to the lack of traditional support systems and structures. Older women also face a particular risk of vulnerability to climate impacts, experiencing disproportionate health risks (for example chronic diseases and air pollution harms), and have higher rates of mortality from extreme heat events. Furthermore, as a result of higher levels of illiteracy, including digital illiteracy, cultural practices, and gendered expectations on the role they play in communities, older women may encounter additional barriers to accessing information and aid during an emergency. Bringing examples from recent crises, this event will seek to explore the multiple and intersecting forms of discriminations faced by older women in emergencies and put forward ideas on how to address such challenges and ensure that their needs are met.
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