Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I, too, rise. As I mentioned earlier in this sitting that June is senior citizens' month in the Northwest Territories. As part of that, today, June 15th, as previously mentioned, is another special occasion for our seniors and elders. The United Nations General Assembly in resolution 66/127 designated June 15thas World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
This represents the one day of the year for the whole world to voice its opposition and resistance to the abuse and suffering that is too often inflicted upon our elders. Mr. Speaker, the world's population is aging, and in the near future, the numbers of elders will begin to surpass those of young people. As that trend continues, the problem of elder abuse becomes a greater issue affecting more and more of the population. World Health Organization data indicates that between four and six per cent of elders around the world suffer some sort of abuse, a large part of which goes in reported.
Senior citizens’ month is a time to set aside for all of us to recognize and honour the seniors and elders in our communities. On this day, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, gatherings and events will be happening across the globe to raise awareness and opposition to abuse of elders. In the Northwest Territories, we can make a difference in our own communities by celebrating and honouring our elders to make sure that those elders are safe, secure, and protected.
Mr. Speaker, as I shared in my previous statement on seniors, I am sure each of us has had the occasion to be grateful and appreciative of an elder in our life, whether it's a lesson we were taught, a skill that was passed down, a language or value practice that was gifted to us. For each of us, our seniors and elders have offered us the gifts, knowledge, and values that make us who we are today. The lives lived by our elders created the foundation for the world in which we now live. Their legacy and gift to us is that we live in a free and prosperous country that many call the best country in the world.
Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone in this Assembly and all residents of the Northwest Territories to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by celebrating, respecting, and thanking our elders for their contributions to our world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.