The WHO has pointed out that, each year, 1 in 6 people aged 60 or over suffer abuse, with the prevalence of abuse in the specific institutional context being even more worrying.
Abuse can take many forms and, when it occurs in contexts of isolation and dependency, poses particular difficulties in terms of detection and reporting.
There is a need for empirical research into the incidence of abuse against this vulnerable group, which is still neglected compared to other forms of interpersonal violence.
In the context of criminal law, too, there is a lack of attention to violence against this population.
In the year that Law No. 7/2026, which enacts the Statute on Older People, came into force, let us ensure its provisions are put into practice, bearing in mind those who seem to have been forgotten.
An opinion piece by Mariana Vilas Boas, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law.
Postgraduate Programme in Elder Law
The legal challenges associated with an ageing population require a specialised and multidisciplinary approach.
The Postgraduate Programme in Law for Older People at the Faculty of Law – Porto School of the Portuguese Catholic University addresses issues such as autonomy, legal capacity, the protection of rights, assets, health, violence and abuse, preparing professionals to respond to the new legal challenges associated with longevity.
Find out more about Postgraduate Programme in Elder Law
