International Day of Older Persons: “Older people have human rights – they must be respected” – Huw Irranca-Davies

To mark International Day of Older Persons (Monday 1st October), the Minister has reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s commitment to putting the human rights of older people in Wales at the heart of Welsh public services and make Wales the best place in the world to grow old.

Wales has a long history of working with and for older people from the introduction of the first Strategy for Older People in Wales in 2003, to establishing the world’s first Older People’s Commissioner in 2008.

The Welsh Government’s determination to improve lives for older people continues today. Earlier this year, the Minister publicly committed to reinvigorate the Welsh Government’s focus on older people’s issues.

Ministers are working closely with older people and their representatives, the Older People’s Commissioner and other interested groups to co-produce a framework for an ageing society.

Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“To mark International Day of Older Persons, I want to reaffirm the Welsh Government’s determination to put the human rights of older people in Wales at the heart of Welsh public services. Growing older should not erode an individual’s human rights.

“Raising awareness of human rights can empower older people to play an active role in ensuring the care they receive upholds their fundamental right to be treated with dignity and respect. However, we must also raise awareness of human rights among the public bodies and organisations that work with older people every day.

“Celebrating Older People’s Day can encourage people of all ages to look forward with positivity and embrace growing older. My aim is to make Wales the best place in the world to grow old and I look forward to working with key stakeholders, the Older People’s Commissioner and, most importantly, older people themselves, to realise this aim.”