Rights - The theme for Age Awareness Week 2008

The theme of rights will focus this year's Age Awareness Week on the issue of Human Rights and Equality and highlight that discimination based on age is the same as other groups which are discriminated against.  This theme will also help to establish a link to age beyond employment.  It will allow for a greater focus on Goods, Facilities and Services protections but also in relation to the outcomes of the Bill of Rights Forum and future discussions around the Single Equality Bill and the Bill of Rights and how age fits into this.  The main aim will be to raise older people's awareness of the issues so that when the time comes for either the introduction of a Single Equality Bill or a Bill of Rights, or of legislation on Goods, Facilities and Services, people will have the knowledge and skills to be able to be effective advocates for others or on their own behalf.

As with previous Age Awareness Weeks, ten grants were disseminated to groups who will host events which promote the rights of older people.  The closing date has passed and the groups have been selected.  Details of events can be found in the Events Guide.

This year a dedicated Age Awareness Week website has been developed.

Click here to download a copy of the Events Guide.
Click here to download a copy of the poster.
Click here to download a copy of the flyer.

Research on rights
To support the launch of Age Awareness Week 2008 and its theme of rights, the Changing Ageing Partnership commissionerd independent research into rights and older people.  Millward Brown Ulster Limited carried out an Omnibus survey in August which involved 1000 interviews with a representatve sample of the adult population.

Key findings

• 93 per cent agreed that it should be unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods and services in Northern Ireland on the basis of age
• When asked to choose the top three most important actions or changes that could be made to promote tht rights of older people in society, the top overall answer cited was 'Put stronger age discrimination legislation in place' (70 per cent)
• When asked what could be the most important action or change that could be made to promote the rights of older people in society, the top answer cited was 'Appoint ant Independent Commisioner for Older People' (29 per cent)
• 84 per cent felt that the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive need to do more to ensure the rights of older people are protected and promoted
• 87 per cent felt that discriminatory attitudes towards older people can never be justified; a trend which had remained consistent with the 2007 research findings (90 percent)
• Two thirds (66 per cent) felt that older people are discriminated against as a result of their age; a trend which has remained consistent with the 2007 research findings (64 per cent)
• Over two thirds (68 per cent) felt that older people are in the whole less valued than people in the general population in this country because of their age
• Almost one in two (49 per cent) were aware of instances where older peole have been treated with less dignity and respect by people in health and social care professions because of their age