The violent deaths of older people are linked to the responsibility of the State because of its obligation, established in different international agreements and conventions, to protect, care for, and maintain the material living conditions that avoid the anticipated exposure of older people to the risk of dying. Its responsibilities range from guaranteeing the right to life and integrity to the full exercise of all other human rights.

In this sense, except for some deaths by accidents and other external causes, most of the violent deaths of older people are directly or indirectly related to the actions or omissions of the State, according to a recent report by Venezuelan civil association Convite entitled Informe de Victimización: Vejez en Riesgo (Victimization Report: Old age at risk).

The investigation conducted between January and December 2020 shows that 372 older people lost their lives violently, under the following categories: 178 deaths for causes attributable to crime; 69 due to carelessness, negligence, or inexperience (aggravated violence, run-overs, or induced accidents); 46 deaths at the responsibility of the State (starvation, torture or ill-treatment, or lack of care) and 79 violent deaths of another type (suicides or accidents).

Most of the older adults who lost their lives in violent circumstances were aged 60 to 80 years, 275 men and 97 women. The states with the highest numbers of violent deaths are the Metropolitan Area of ​​Caracas (36), Lara (35), Anzoátegui (33), and Zulia (30).

According to the Report on the Victimization of Older Persons, these deaths could have been prevented and they expose the State’s negligence and failure to fulfill its obligation to protect senior citizens from threats coming from individuals and/or public or private entities.

Deaths from Covid-19

The study conducted by Convite recorded a total of 539 deaths of older people attributable to Covid-19 or related causes in the second half of 2020. Of this figure, 71 deaths correspond to older adults who worked in the health sector.

The report highlights that “[The] State has played a direct or indirect role in said deaths because of its actions or omissions, including its failure to comply with its obligations as regards the healthcare system to prevent the premature death of senior citizens”. 

You can read the full report in English HERE.

Translated by José Rafael Medina