Older Persons Protection Barriers Report, North-West Syria (July 2024) [EN/AR]

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The Inclusion Technical working group (ITWG) of the Northwest Syria Protection Cluster, with support from the Protection Monitoring and Analysis working Group (PMA WG) coordinated an assessment of protection risks, impacts and between March and April 2024. 988 older persons above the age of 60 were consulted, living in 26 sub-districts within the governorates of Northern Aleppo and Idleb in Northwest Syria covering 112 locations communities, and 106 camp residences. The key findings of the assessment include:

• Approximately 3 out of 4 of older respondents believe that older people have partial to no access to basic services, transportation and health services.

• Gender plays a role in the dynamics related to accessing services, while family composition1 has less influence.

• There is a perception that older people struggle to fully provide for their family’s financial needs, partially influenced by unequal workplace opportunities for older individuals, including between gender. Approximately 2 out of 3 older people perceive older women as not receiving equal pay compared to older men in the same roles and workplaces.

• All in all, the assessment underscores a prevalent perception of age-based disparities in access to work opportunities and workplace rights within the community. In terms of safety, the assessment shows persistent concerns about travel safety, especially among older females with disabilities.

• Humanitarian organizations need to improve access to information for older persons. Information dissemination strategies need to better serve older persons, particularly in relation to access and responsiveness of complaints mechanisms.

• The assessment reveals a significant gap in support systems and GBV interventions and further highlights a critical need for initiatives aimed at GBV and PSEA raising awareness, educating older individuals about reporting mechanisms, and improving access to support services for those affected by violence and abuse.

• The prevalence of gender-based violence and safety concerns will require further investigation. An analysis of the figures on safety and gender-based violence reveals persistently alarming statistics. Among those who reported feelings of unease regarding the security conditions in their respective communities or living areas, 262 older individuals described their level of concern as ranging from ‘very concerning’ to ‘moderately concerning,’ representing 54% of all respondents.

• More tailored and integrated programming that specifically target the needs of older persons is required. This includes improving access to basic services, income opportunities, protection measures, and healthcare services.

• Approximately 3 out of 4 older people indicate substantial presence of health-related concerns in the community.