[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 118 (Monday, June 20, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 39867-39868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14638]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 118 / Monday, June 20, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 39867]]

                Proclamation 9462 of June 15, 2016

                
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Too often, elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation 
                threaten the livelihoods of older individuals and erode 
                their extraordinary potential. One in ten seniors in 
                America experiences mistreatment or abuse--including 
                domestic and sexual violence--and because these 
                incidents are vastly underreported, only a limited 
                number of victims are able to get the help they need. 
                Today, we join our international partners in renewing 
                our commitment to combat and raise awareness of elder 
                abuse, and in striving to ensure security and dignity 
                for all seniors.

                Worldwide, millions of people--predominantly women--
                experience different forms of elder abuse, including 
                physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Theft, fraud, 
                and other types of financial exploitation also affect 
                seniors across socioeconomic lines, and neglect and 
                abandonment can cause great harm to vulnerable older 
                individuals. My Administration is dedicated to 
                addressing this serious problem by providing care to 
                survivors of abuse, transforming our Nation's criminal 
                justice systems to better understand elder abuse as a 
                criminal issue, and increasing public awareness of 
                warning signs and prevention strategies. Additionally, 
                because the majority of elder abuse victims are women, 
                we are working to support women domestically and abroad 
                and to combat gender-based violence around the world.

                One of the best measures of a country is how it treats 
                its older citizens. My Administration is devoted to 
                strengthening Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans 
                Act, and Social Security. Together, these programs have 
                significantly reduced the rate of seniors living in 
                poverty, helped older Americans access health care and 
                quality care services, and allowed older Americans to 
                remain independent as they age. The Elder Justice Act, 
                enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act, took new 
                steps to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation 
                and established an Elder Justice Coordinating Council 
                through which Federal agencies are working together to 
                address elder abuse and neglect. And our commitment to 
                supporting survivors of all ages is reflected in the 
                Violence Against Women Act, which dedicates Federal 
                funds to victim service providers, law enforcement, and 
                prosecutors working to respond to domestic and sexual 
                violence experienced by older adults.

                Last year, I was proud to host the White House 
                Conference on Aging to identify ways we can improve the 
                quality of life for older Americans and enable them to 
                live in retirement with dignity. Held once a decade, 
                this conference brought together older Americans, their 
                families, caregivers, and advocates to focus on key 
                issue areas, including the importance of elder justice. 
                In addition to taking new steps to expand protections 
                against financial exploitation, assist victims of 
                crimes, and review the science of understanding and 
                preventing abuse through better screening tools, we 
                have built on many of the Federal efforts already 
                underway and are working to support aging Americans for 
                decades to come.

                On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, let us resolve to 
                give all people the tools and support they need to live 
                out their golden years in peace and security. Let us 
                fight cruelty against seniors wherever it exists, and

[[Page 39868]]

                together, let us stamp out all forms of elder abuse--
                here at home and across the globe.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim June 15, 2016, as 
                World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this day by learning the signs of 
                elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and by raising 
                awareness about this important public health issue.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-14638
Filed 6-17-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P