Abstract
This chapter explores the issue of the neglected and abused elderly, with the data derived from research on elderly subsidies conducted by the same author in 2015 in the municipalities of Baucau, Viqueque, Maliana, Ermera and Suai in Timor-Leste. Through the daily living experiences of four elderly women, this chapter argues that in the discourse of caring for the elderly in Timorese families, problems related to neglect, violence and abuse emerged as a latent phenomenon, which the Timorese community considers private household affairs that are not supposed to be revealed to others. This chapter aims to unfold the cross-cutting reality of human rights violations involving elderly women which is often neglected in public debate.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
See also Chapter 7.
- 2.
A piece of handmade cloth with traditional motifs that characterize a specific location.
- 3.
It is the term used to call an elderly with respect, equivalent to “grandma.”
- 4.
Traditional obligatory contribution to family ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, which are usually in kind (Tais) or in animals such as buffalos, pigs or goats.
References
Age Concern New Zealand. (1992). Promoting the rights and well-being of older people and those who care for them. Age Concern New Zealand.
Anetzberger, G. J. (1997). Elderly adult survivors of family violence: Implications for clinical practice. Violence Against Women, 3, 499–514.
Anetzberger, G. J. (2005). The reality of elder abuse. Clinical Gerontologist, 28(1–2), 1–25.
Barer, B. M. (1997). The secret shame of the very old: ‘I’ve never told this to anyone else.’ Journal of Mental Health and Aging, 3(3), 365–375.
Belun. (2015, February 17). Policy brief 9: Elderly pensions and the potential for conflict in Timor-Leste. Belun. https://www.belun.tl/en/policy-brief-9-elderly-pensions-and-the-potential-for-conflict-in-timor-leste/. Accessed January 21, 2021.
Carmo, A. B. (2017). Respectfully aging: The elderly person in Timor-Leste. Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Commission, 64.
Crichton, S. J., Bond, J. B., Jr., Harvey, C. D., & Ristock, J. (1999). Elder abuse: Feminist and ageist perspectives. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 10(3–4), 115–130.
Direcção Geral de Estatística. (2016). Estatística de Timor-Leste. Direcção Geral de Estatística. http://www.statistics.gov.tl/pt/category/publications/. Accessed January 21, 2021.
ESCAP (UN Economic and social commission for Asia and the Pacific). (2016). Ageing in the Asian and Pacific region: An overview. ESCAP.
Haberkern, K., & Szydlik, M. (2010). State care provision, societal opinion and children’s care of older parents in 11 European countries. Ageing and Society, 30(2), 299–323.
Harbison, J., Coughlan, S., Beaulieu, M., & Karabanow, J. (2011). Understanding ‘elder abuse and neglect’: A critique of assumptions underpinning responses to the mistreatment and neglect of older people. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 24(2), 88–103.
ILO. (2016). Universal old-age and disability pensions. ILO Social Protection Department.
Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. B., & Lozano, R. (2003, February). World report on violence and health. Biomédica: revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 22(Suppl 2), 327–336.
Nguyen, T. P. T. (2015). Subsidio ba Idozu: Hare’e fali politika ‘Cash transfer’ naun-kondisional iha Timor-Leste. The Local, the Regional and the Global, 1.
Pillemer, K. (1990). Ten (tentative) truths about elder abuse. Journal of Health and Human Resources Administration, 12(4), 464–483.
Ploeg, J., Fear, J., & Hutchison, B. (2009). A Systematic review of interventions for elder abuse. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 21, 187–210.
Podnieks, E., & Pillemer, K. (1990). National survey on abuse of the elderly in Canada (Report). Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Photocopy/139167NCJRS.pdf. Accessed January 21, 2021.
RDTL. (2002). Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Section 20.
RDTL. (2008). Decree-Law No. 19/2008. Jornal da República. Ministry of Justice.
Sossou, M. A., & Yogtiba, J. A. (2016). Abuse, neglect, and violence against elderly women in Ghana: Implication for social justice and human rights. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 27(4–5), 422–427.
UN Secretary-General. (2002, January 9). Abuse of older persons: Recognizing and responding to abuse of older persons in a global context (Report of Secretary-General to the Committee for Social Development E/CN.5/2002/PC/2). UN. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/458316?ln=en. Accessed January 21, 2021.
van Groenou, M. I. B., & De Boer, A. (2016). Providing informal care in a changing society. European Journal of Ageing, 13(3), 271–279.
Walsh, C. A., Olson, J. L., Ploeg, J., Lohfeld, L., & MacMillan, H. L. (2011). Elder abuse and oppression: Voices of marginalized elders. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 23, 17–42.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tam, T.N.T.P. (2022). The Neglected Rights of Elderly Women in Timor-Leste. In: Khoo, Y.H., da Silva, A.B., Tam, T.N.T.P. (eds) Rethinking Human Rights and Peace in Post-Independence Timor-Leste Through Local Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan Studies on Human Rights in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3779-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3779-7_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-3778-0
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-3779-7
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)