Crime prevention and protection against violation of rights for the elderly
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Abstract
This study aims to investigate the issues related to crime and the violation of rights faced by elderly individuals, with a focus on the case of the Lao Daeng subdistrict, Don Mod Daeng district, Ubon Ratchathani province. This qualitative research was conducted through in-depth interviews with 18 key informants selected by purposive sampling, including police officers, officials from the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Justice Office, officials from the Office of Social Development and Human Security, community leaders, elderly individuals, and community volunteers. Additionally, a focus group was conducted with 20 community members selected via snowball sampling. This study also employed observations and content analysis.
The findings revealed that the crimes of elderly individuals are in the areas of fraud, domestic violence and intimidation. The rights violation of elderly individuals include abandonment, lack of income and homelessness. These risk factors are related to economic conditions, health vulnerabilities, and a lack of support from the social system. Moreover, the study identified that drug-related problems in the community contribute to an increased risk of crimes against the elderly. Preventive strategies include promoting community empowerment, establishing support systems for the elderly at the local level, such as creating Elderly Home Groups and appointing Case Managers in the community, as well as developing reporting channels and access to legal support services. The study suggests the drafting of an Act for the Protection of the Elderly from Maltreatment and an Elderly Justice Act, along with the establishment of an Elder Justice Fund. Furthermore, there should be an integration of cooperation between the government and the community regarding budgets and personnel to establish appropriate and sustainable networks for crime prevention and protection against rights violations for the elderly.
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