HelpAge research summary

The rights of older people in Mozambique

Information on the extent to which older people enjoy their human rights in Mozambique is rarely available or included in the States reports to human rights monitoring and accountability mechanisms. In response to this lack of data, HelpAge International carried out a survey in 2012 with 104 women and men over the age of 50 in Mozambique. This summary illustrates the key findings of the survey. These findings provide evidence of gaps in the protection of older peoples human rights and reinforce the need for national and international action, mechanisms and processes to ensure that the human rights of older people are better addressed.
Mozambique has yet to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights but it has ratified other core international and regional human rights treaties. There are a number of policies, instruments and programmes in place to protect the rights of older people in Mozambique, such as the National Policy of Older People, the Basic Social Subsidy Programme and the draft Law on the Promotion and Protection of Older Peoples Rights. Despite this, the survey findings presented in this summary point to possible failures by the State to take all appropriate measures to protect and promote the rights of older people. Older women and men reported that discrimination on the basis of their age was a regular and common experience in their lives. They reported high levels of violence and abuse that appears to be committed with impunity and little access to redress. They also reported considerable levels of neglect in social care and support and being treated in a degrading or humiliating way because of their age. However, in spite of the discrimination they face, older women and men reported that they participate actively in political and community life. The findings presented here aim to capture the position and experiences of the 104 older women and men interviewed in the survey. They are not intended to be representative of the population of older people as a whole. More information on the survey and how it was conducted can be found on the back page of this summary.

s accusations abuse (see gure 6)

2 The rights of older people in Mozambique

The right to physical security 0.000000 16.666700 33.333401 50.000101 66.666801 83.33350 (protection from crime, violence and abuse)
Experience of at least one form of crime, violence or abuse since the age of 50
More than half of respondents (61 per cent) said they did not feel safe from crime and violence. Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) reported experiencing at least one type of personal crime, violence or abuse since the age of 50, including a higher proportion of women (75 per cent) than men (67 per cent). The most common type of abuse was emotional abuse which was reported by 46 per cent of respondents (see Figure 1).
19%

Figure 1: Reported types of crime, violence and abuse

38%

Financial abuse

46%

Emotional abuse

Physical abuse

6% Sexual abuse

39%

Malicious accusations abuse

Financial crime, violence and abuse

Over a third of respondents (38 per cent) reported Sample experiencing at least one type ofgraph financial abuse since the 0% text age of 50. Reporting levels were similar among men and women and higher among thoseSample living in rural areas. graphfinancial abuse, 72 Of those who reported experiencing 0% text per cent reported experiencing the abuse more than once, Sample 21 per cent had experienced abuse within the last 12 graph months, and 19 per cent did0% not text tell anyone about the abuse.
graph The most common type of financial crime, violence and 0% text abuse was stealing money, property or possessions which Sample was reported by 29 per cent of respondents (see Figure 2). 0% graph text Sample

Figure 2: Reported types of financial abuse

29%

Stealing of money, property or possessions

11%

Experiencing money, property or possessions being taken away by force

8%

Being tricked or cheated out of money, property or possessions

8%

Being denied money, property or possessions that was theirs Being prevented from having their fair share of money, inheritance, property or possessions

10%

0%

Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text

Being made to leave a house, farm or property by force 7% or without their permission or consent Other people making nancial decisions for them without 4 % their permission or consent

0%

0%

Emotional crime, violence and abuse Sample

graph Nearly half of respondents (46 cent) reported text 0% per Sample experiencing at least one type ofgraph emotional abuse since the text 0% Sample age of 50. Of those who reported experiencing emotional graph 0% text abuse, 35 per cent had experienced it in the last 12 months, Sample graph 71 per cent had experienced0% the Sample abuse more than once, text and 10 per cent did not tell anyone about the incident. graph 0% text Sample High levels of abuse were reported by women (50 per cent) graph text of the perpetrators 0% Sample and men (42 per cent). The majority graph were reported to be family members, friends or neighbours. 0% text Sample graph The most commonly reported form 0% textof emotional abuse was Sample graph being put down, belittled, degraded, humiliated or shamed 0% text Sample (see Figure 3). graph 0% Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph 0% Sample text graph

Figure 3: Reported types of emotional abuse

Being put down, belittled, degraded, humiliated or shamed

42%

35%

Being excluded or ignored

17%

Experiencing controlling behaviour (such as being prevented from having contact with friends or family, or threats to hurt you)

A support organisation or counsellor A community or village leader A religious leader An NGO Family or friends

The rights of older people in Mozambique 3

Physical crime, violence and abuse

Nineteen per cent of respondents reported experiencing at least one type of physical abuse since the age of 50. Of those who reported experiencing physical abuse, 16 per cent had experienced this in the last 12 months and 75 per cent had experienced it more than once. Prevalence rates were higher among those living in rural areas and among members of the Sena ethnic group and other indigenous tribal group.1 Ten respondents reported experiencing threats to kill them; nine the use of a knife, gun, stick or other weapon; eight Sample graph text violence or force; and five physical restraint such as being tied up or locked in a room. Only six respondents reported this abuse to the police (see Figure 4). This raises questions about whether these crimes are being committed with impunity and without any form of redress.
1. The survey asked respondents if they came from Tsonga, Shangaan, Manyika, Sena and other indigenous tribal group.

Figure 4: Sources of help and support sought Did not tell anyone by those reporting physical abuse
Figures represent number of respondents out of 104 surveyed

6 The police 1 A legal centre or legal authorities 1 A hospital or health centre 2 A support organisation or counsellor
The police 7 A community or village leader A2 legal centre or legal authorities (no respondents) A religious leader A hospital 1 An NGOor health centre (no respondents) A community or village leader 6 Family or friends A religious 6 leader Did not tell anyone Family or friends

Sexual crime, violence and abuse

Six respondents reported experiencing at least one category of sexual abuse since the age of 50. Three reported experiencing the abuse more than once and two experienced this in the last year. Of those respondents who reported sexual abuse, all experienced being forced to have sexual intercourse against their will. Two respondents reported being forced to have other sexual activity against their will, and two reported attempted sexual abuse. Perpetrators included a current partner, husband or wife, friends or acquaintances, local militia or civil enforcement groups. Only one respondent who had experienced sexual abuse told the police. Four told no one (see Figure 5). Again, this raises questions about whether these crimes are being committed with impunity and with no means of redress or access to justice.

Did not tell anyone Figure 5: Sources of help and support sought by those reporting sexual abuse
Figures represent number of respondents out of 104 surveyed

1 The police 0 A legal centre or legal authorities 0 A hospital or health centre 1 A community or village leader 1 A religious leader 1 Family or friends 4 Did not tell anyone

Malicious accusation abuse

A substantial proportion (39 per cent) reported experiencing Sample at least one type of maliciousgraph accusation abuse since the 0% text age of 50. The most frequently reported type of accusation was that of being a witch (see Figure 6). Prevalence was Sample graph particularly high among people aged 85 and above, those 0% text living in rural areas, and members of the Tsonga, Sena and Sample other indigenous tribal group.
text abuse to the police, a legal 0% this Seven respondents reported centre or authority. However, Sample 22 did not tell anyone about graph the incident. 0% text Sample graph graph

Figure 6: Reported types of malicious accusations

Accusations of being a witch or spirit possession or sorcery

37%

27%

Accusations of using witchcraft, spells, black magic or evil spirits Physical or verbal abuse due to witchcraft or related accusations

26%

4 The rights of older people in Mozambique

The right to individual life, equal treatment and dignity

Dignity, autonomy and social isolation
Forty per cent per cent of respondents felt socially isolated because of their age. Sample The most common form of detrimental treatment and lack text 0% of autonomy, choice and control associated with older age Sample was other people looking down at them or treating them graph text in a humiliating, shameful0% or degrading way which was reported by 51 per cent of respondents (see Figure 7). Sample
0% graph text 38% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Not treated with dignity and respect Figure 8: Provision of47% everyday personal because of their agecare and support graph

Figure 7: Types of detrimental treatment reported because of age

47%

Not treated with dignity and respect Other people look down at them or treat them in a humiliating, shameful or degrading way

51%

Other people make important decisions for them without their permission or consent

0%

47%

Feeling of being pushed around

0%

29%

Feeling that what happens to them is outside of their control

0%

Social care and support needs and neglect Sample

Fifty two per cent of that they needed help or support with everyday Sample personal care and Sample graph other activities (see Figure 8). Of those needing this graph 0% text 0% text personal care and support, 44 per cent said they did not receive such help or support from any source and 35 per Sample Sample graph personal care needs. cent felt neglected in relation to their graph 0% text
0% text Sample Sample graph graph 0% text 0% text Sample Sample graph graph 0% text 0% text Sample graph Sample text Sample graph graph 0% text 0% text graph respondents 0% text indicated

38%

Other people look down at them or treat them in a humiliating, or degrading way 51% shameful Need everyday personal care 52% and support Other people make important decisions for them without their permission or Of those needing it, receive consent because of their personal age the everyday care and 54% support they need

of being pushed OfFeeling those needing it, do not around because their age 47%receive the of everyday personal care 44% and support they need Feeling that what happens to them is outside of their control Of those needing personal care and support, Less than 29% 10 35% have been neglected Between 10 and 20 More than 20

Exposure to intense informal Sample caring Sample graph graph activities 0% text
Fifteen respondents reported undertaking informal unpaid Sample Sample caring activities for relatives or friends graph who were frail or graph 0% text physically or mentally ill. 0% text
Sample Of these, two respondents indicated that they had provided Sample graph graph intense unpaid caring activities more than 20 hours a 0% of text 0% text week (see Figure 9). 0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text 0% text

Figure 9: Time spent on unpaid care for others

Figures represent number of respondents providing unpaid care, out of 104 surveyed

2 Less than 10 hours a week 9 Between 10 and 20 hours a week 2 More than 20 hours a week

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

The rights of older people in Mozambique 5

The right to the highest attainable standard of health

Access to healthcare
Eighteen per cent of respondents indicated that there was no health facility within 30 minutes travel time of their home, including 23 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women. The proportion with no access was higher among those living in rural locations (see Figure 10). Lack of access was higher among older people with a limiting longstanding illness or disability (LLID) and among those from the Shangaan, Tsonga and Sena ethnic groups. Figure 10: Access to healthcare facility within 30 minutes
No 24% 7%* No 10%

Rural Urban Tried but were denied or refused health care

Their illness, disability or inrmity making it too dicult to travel

Yes 69%

Yes 90% The health facility being too far away

* Do not know or declined to answer Lack of access to transport

Experiences of discrimination, poor treatment and neglect in healthcare Sample

Transport being too expensive Figure 11: Age discrimination in accessing healthcare

graph said they had been Thirteen per cent of respondents 0% text refused or denied medical treatment because of their age; 6 per cent had been refused Sample healthcare; 13 per cent had graph been given worse healthcare; and 22 per cent said their 0% text healthcare needs had been neglected (see Figure 11). Sample graph graph text Sample 0% text Sample graph text Sample graph text graph

No or missing No or missing Seeing a medical professional, or health equipment, such as 60% 21% bandages and or medicines, being too expensive 13% Refused or denied medical treatment The health facility being of a low quality or theMale sta often being absent Female

6% Refused health insurance Not having health insurance 13%

Yes Being treated badly in the past by Yes 40% health worse professionals Experiencing treatment by health79% professionals

0%

Feeling too old to bother or did not want to be a burden on family or relatives 22% Health and medical needs were neglected Too busy with other work, household responsibilities or other commitments Other reason

0%

Unmet health needs Sample

Twenty respondents reported that there had been at least 0% text one occasion since the age of 50 when they had needed Sample healthcare but had not received it. Of these respondents, graph 0% text two received advice from someone else, for instance, a pharmacist, traditional healer or a shopkeeper, and four Sample had tried to access healthcare but had been refused or graph 0% text denied it. The most common barrier toSample accessing healthcare was graph because their illness, disability 0% text or infirmity made it too difficult to travel (see Figure 12).
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text

Figure 12: Barriers to accessing healthcare

Figures represent number of respondents out of 104 surveyed

4 Tried but were denied or refused health care 13 inrmity making it too dicult to travel 11 The health facility being too far away 9 Lack of access to transport 6 Transport being too expensive 3 such as bandages or medicines, being too expensive 3 low quality or the sta often being absent 7 Not having health insurance 7 in the past by health professionals 2 or did not want to be a burden on family or relatives 5 household responsibilities or other commitments 4 Other reason
Too busy with other work, Feeling too old to bother Being treated badly The health facility being of a Seeing a medical professional, or health equipment, Their illness, disability or

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

6 The rights of older people in Mozambique

The right to an adequate standard of living

Discriminatory denial of everyday essentials
Forty-two per cent of respondents reported lack of access Sample graph water, shelter, heating, to everyday essentials such0% as food, text fuel and clothing as a serious problem for them personally Sample all of the time, 42 per cent reported such difficulties graph regularly and 13 per cent occasionally. Only 2 per cent 0% text reported never experiencing such difficulties. A higher Sample proportion of women (54 per cent) than men (29 per cent) graph 0% experienced such difficulties alltext of the time.
Sample to everyday Of those who reported lack of access graph essentials, only 24 per cent0% said this was never because text of their age (see Figure 13). 0% Sample graph text

Figure 13: Denial of everyday essentials on the basis of age

23%

All of the time

22%

Regularly

30%

Occasionally

24%

Never

Sample Access to income and social security graph

Figure 14: Access to income and social security

Any type of paid work activity (formal or informal)

0% text Forty-two per cent of respondents Sample indicated that they graph Sample had received income from formal or informal work, while 0% text graph 33 per cent indicated that they had received income from 0% text a pension (see Figure 14). Sample text they 0% said Twenty nine respondents graphhad difficulty 0% text accessing pensions because payments were always or Sample often late. One respondent graph citedSample illness, disability or 0% text graph infirmity making it difficult to travel to get the pension. 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph Sample text graph 0% text Sample graph text Sample graph text graph Sample 33%

42%

Pension

9%

Money or support from social benets paid to older people

0%

Money or support from other social insurance protection and social security benets or receiving allowances paid by 13% government or local government or NGOs

0%

2 % Income from sale of assets or savings

0%

2 % Money from a loan or credit

0%

2 % Money or support from husband or wife

0%

17%

Money or support from family or friends

0%

3 % Money or support from a charity or NGO or religious organisation

0%

10%

Money from another source

0%

Discrimination at work Sample and in access graph to financial services 0% text Sample
0% text Sample

Figure 15: Discrimination in access to work and loans

graph Thirty per cent of respondents indicated that they had text 0% Sample been refused work because of their age since the age of 50. graph

30% Refused work because of their age

Twenty seven per cent had been refused a loan because graph text 0% Sample of their age (see Figure 15).
graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph

27% Refused a loan because of their age

The rights of older people in Mozambique 7

The right to political voice and participation

Political participation
The vast majority of respondents (87 per cent) had voted in the last national election in Mozambique. Among those who did not vote, reasons given were a lack of relevant identity cards or papers, not being able to get to the polling station, not knowing about the election and concerns about safety (see Figure 16).

Lack of relevant identity cards or papers Not being able to get to the polling station

Not knowing about the election Concerns about safety

Figure 16: Reasons for not voting

Figures represent number of respondents out of 104 surveyed

1 Lack of relevant identity cards or papers

7%*

No No 10% 24% 6 Not being able to get to the polling station

1 Not knowing Ruralabout the election 1 Concerns about safety

Yes 69%

Urban

Yes 90%

Participation in political and Sample graph text public affairs

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (61 per cent) reported participating in political or public or community life in the last 12 months. A lower proportion of people with a limiting longstanding illness or disability (LLID) said they participated (54 per cent) compared to those without an LLID (69 per cent). A lower proportion of men (40 per cent) than women (79 per cent) reported participating (see Figure 17).

* Do not know or declined to answer Figure 17: Participation in political life and public or community affairs in the last 12 months, by sex No or missing 60% No or missing 21%

Male Less than 10 hours a week

Female

Yes 40%

Yes 79%

Knowledge and understanding of human rights

The majority of respondents (61Sample per cent) had heard of the Universal Declaration of Humangraph Rights (see Figure 18).
0% text

Figure 18: Knowledge of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

37%

No

Eighty two per cent felt that older people should stand up Sample more actively for their rights. graph
0% text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph

61%

Yes

0%

2 % Declined to answer

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

8 The rights of older people in Mozambique

Survey on the human rights of older people in Mozambique

The aim of the survey is to extend knowledge and understanding of older peoples rights in Mozambique by providing data on critical areas, systematically disaggregated by a range of characteristics such as sex, disability, ethnic group, area type and narrow age band. The survey questions were based on a panel of indicators that was developed in line with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights framework of human rights indicators. The findings cover areas such as older womens and mens access to basic essential goods, hunger and food allocation within the household; access to healthcare and experiences of poor treatment, neglect and discrimination in healthcare. Questions also focused on older womens and mens experience of dignity and respect, autonomy and social isolation; physical security, including protection from violence, and other aspects of elder abuse such as financial and emotional abuse and malicious accusations (for example witchcraft). Further, the questions covered older peoples participation in political affairs and public and community life, and their knowledge and understanding of human rights.

Note about disaggregation

For ethical and safety reasons, data is not presented disaggregated by multiple characteristics. This is due to the sensitive nature of the questions on domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse and any potential harm to respondents should their identity be disclosed. A full research report is available at www.helpage.org/monitoringrights

Acknowledgements
HelpAge International would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development for their financial support of this research. Special thanks go to Polly Vizard of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics who developed the survey, did the analysis, and wrote the research report. We would like to thank the following organisations who undertook the fieldwork: Vukoxa (Chokwe), Conselho Cristo de Mozambique (Maputo), HelpAge International (Maputo and Tete) and Aco para Desenvolvimento Comunitro (ASADEC) (Sofala). Thank you also to all the older people who were interviewed.

How the survey was conducted

The survey was carried out in 2012 with 104 women and men over the age of 50 from rural and urban communities in Tete, Gaza and Sofala provinces. Disproportionate purposive sampling with quotas was used to ensure coverage across the subgroups, including those hardest to reach and the those over 80 years old. The findings in this summary are intended to capture the position and experiences of the older people interviewed in the survey. As the sample was limited to 104 people, the findings are not intended to be representative of the population of older people as a whole. Ethical and safety guidelines from the WHO Multi-country Study on Womens Health and Domestic Violence Against Women were used to inform the survey design.

HelpAge International helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives.
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This research and summary was produced with the financial assistance of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of HelpAge International and do not necessarily reflect the views of BMZ.

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