Report suggest carers’ human rights being violated

new report published by Carers UK has suggested that some local authorities are failing to implement the Human Rights Act with serious consequences for carers.

The report, Whose rights are they anyway? Carers and the Human Rights Act, has found serious weaknesses in the social care and health system that could be causing carers to lose out on help they are entitled to. To highlight this point the report has evidenced several cases of human rights violations that could be taken to court.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Carers tell us time and time again that they feel their human rights are being infringed when they are not given a choice about caring. They find that when support is not right or insufficient, it is impossible to maintain even a basic quality of life. Despite developments in law to improve the situation for carers, these policies are not being put into practice. As this report shows, this issue needs to be urgently addressed to avoid legal challenge.”

The report bases its findings on three key tenets of the Human Right Act that are being breached:

• Carers’ rights to life
• Carers’ rights to privacy and family life
• Carers’ rights to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment.

To read the report, go to: the Carers UK website.