Saudi Arabia has called for stronger international efforts to protect older persons, especially those with disabilities, and to guarantee their rights, dignity and full participation in society.

The call came in a statement delivered by Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on behalf of the Group of Friends on Ageing and Sustainable Development. He spoke at a side event in New York yesterday, held alongside the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Alwasil described elder abuse as a global problem that needs a collective response. He said about 46% of people aged 60 and over live with some form of disability, and that one in six older persons suffers some form of abuse, with greater risk for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

He called for closing data gaps and improving data broken down by age and disability, strengthening legal frameworks, improving care and support services, tightening oversight of long-term care institutions, and developing reporting and protection mechanisms.

He stressed the need to keep working toward safe and inclusive environments that allow older persons to contribute to their communities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of justice, equity and leaving no one behind.