OLDER PEOPLE IN SUFFOLK HAVE NEW CHARTER
| Published: 4th October 2008 10:29 |
Sixty years on from the Declaration of Human Rights, Suffolk is signing its own set of rights for older people in the county. The charter, supported by Chief Executives of all councils across Suffolk, the Police and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) was signed this week on the International Day of Older People (1 October).
The Suffolk bill of rights for older people outlines:
- the rights that older people in Suffolk should be entitled to enjoy
the opportunities they should expect, and
the responsibilities and aspirations of those who provide their activities, services and support.
Signing the Charter, portfolio holder for Adults and Communities, County Councillor Graham Newman said:
"This is our pledge to older people in Suffolk for now and the future. It is a charter to improve lives and the quality of lives of those who live in the county. Key to this is making sure that the needs of people who grow older in Suffolk is not only about delivering better care to individuals but making sure their lives are positive and full of opportunities. As the Declaration of Human Rights reaches its 60th birthday it is fitting that we are all signing up to this pledge together, on the International Day of Older Persons. "
The Charter recognises that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand with the new vision for care for older people and requires that we:
- Stop thinking about narrowly defined care services and start thinking about the provision of more enabling services that provide people with the right to live independently
- Share responsibility for changing attitudes and approaches to ageing between individuals, families, the community, local authorities and the government
- Provide more flexible services and systems that respond in a variety of ways to overcome barriers and enable people to access solutions that works best for them
In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Righs was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations at a meeting in Paris. This Declaration, sometimes described as the universal people's Charter , set- out 'a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations'. This document proved to be one of the most important steps taken in modern times in securing effective national and international recognition of rights to which all human beings are entitled. Following this the General Assembly then called upon all Member countries to publicise the text of the Declaration consisting of 33 articles and 'to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions throughout every Member Country.'
