Age Awareness Week
From a press release:
The theme for Northern Ireland’s third Age Awareness Week is Rights with a particular focus on human rights and equality. The key findings will be delivered on Monday 29 September at 10.30am in the Long Gallery, Stormont.
Anne O’Reilly, spokesperson for the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) and Age Awareness Week said
“The findings of the research are especially poignant in a week when we are highlighting the need to introduce legislation to combat age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. An Equality Bill is due to be introduced in Great Britain which will afford older people in England, Scotland and Wales protection against such discrimination. Unfortunately this legislation will not extend to Northern Ireland so discrimination against older people will continue to be lawful.
“Almost one in two (49 per cent) of respondents were aware of instances where older people have been treated with less dignity and respect by people in health and social care professions because of their age. Age, unlike race, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender, is not protected from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. This situation is unacceptable.
“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. We would call on the Executive to introduce legislation, in line with England, Scotland and Wales, to ensure older people in Northern Ireland are protected and ageism is eradicated from our society.”
Anne O’Reilly continued
“A Single Equality Bill, which would encompass such protection, has been on and off the agenda of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive for some time. The Programme for Government in 2001 planned to provide legislation that would have seen a Single Equality Bill in place by 2004. We are still waiting. We would call on the Assembly and Executive to make the introduction of a Single Equality Bill a priority to ensure the rights of older people are protected and upheld.”
