The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated every year on the 1st of October as an opportunity to raise awareness about the issues affecting older generations and the challenges of ageing in today’s world. This is also a great opportunity to reflect on how our society interacts with age, and a reminder to appreciate elderly people for their role and responsibilities in society. This year the focus is on the resilience and contribution of older women, MOAS explores the challenges faced by elderly refugee and migrant women in the context of migration and displacement.
The world is getting old
According to the UN, “over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050. All regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2019 and 2050. The largest increase (312 million) is projected to occur in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, growing from 261 million in 2019 to 573 million in 2050. The fastest increase in the number of older persons is expected in Northern Africa and Western Asia, rising from 29 million in 2019 to 96 million in 2050 (an increase of 226 per cent). The second fastest increase is projected for sub-Saharan Africa, where the population aged 65 or over could grow from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050 (218 per cent). By contrast, the increase is expected to be relatively small in Australia and New Zealand (84 per cent) and in Europe and Northern America (48%), regions where the population is already significantly older than in other parts of the world”.
Challenges of the elderly refugee women
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, with the past three years intensifying the socioeconomic, environmental, health and climate related impacts on the lives of older persons, especially older women who constitute the majority of older persons. Older women encounter many obstacles during periods of crises and displacement, and those living in refugee camps often face problems including social isolation, loneliness, poverty, chronic dependency, mobility issues and physical and mental health concerns, lack of information and access to services and benefits, and the risk of exploitation and abuse.
When elderly refugee women reach a destination country, they are also exposed to lack of language support, that can increase their isolation and decrease their access to information and support. A lack of language skills is particularly prominent among many refugee women: their caring and domestic responsibilities often keep them from going out and learning a new language or skill. Older refugee women often experience the combination of three evils: the so-called “triple jeopardy of racism, ageism and sexism”.
Despite the difficulties they face, older refugee women must not be considered merely passive victims. They fulfil vital roles. They are full of energy and resources, and they deserve better rights and services. A report by UNHCR confirms that older refugee women are often keepers of community knowledge on coping mechanisms. In many countries-of-origin, older women are often looked up to for their wisdom and life experience and are a source of advice and support to their children and grandchildren. Older women also support the integration of refugee families through their involvement in childcare and domestic tasks.
It’s important that we promote awareness and understanding of the real needs of older refugee women, beyond any cultural stereotypes about older women in specific communities. Recognizing the vital contributions of older refugee women and promoting the inclusion of their voices, perspectives and needs are critical to creating meaningful policies to enhance a holistic response to local, national, and global challenges. It is important to embrace the voices of older women and showcase their resilience and contributions in society, while promoting policy dialogues to enhance the protection of older persons human rights and recognize their contributions to sustainable development.
Final considerations
Despite the difficulties, it is paramount that older refugees – including women – are not solely viewed as ‘passive, dependent recipients of assistance’, as they can also be assets to their community through serving as leaders, being valuable resources for guidance and advice, and acting as transmitters of culture and skills. On this important International Day, MOAS recognises the multitude of challenges that elderly women face in their destination countries and in the refugee camps around the world. We believe that elderly people must live their later years in dignity and security, and we ask the international community and national governments to protect and support older people – including women – on the move, ensuring access to basic services such as health, education, and social systems.
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