print this page
A right to an ordinary life is what many carers say they want. A right to see family and friends, a right to an occasional break, a right to look after their own health needs, a right to consider paid employment. This wish list is so ordinary, and yet these are the very rights that carers say are denied them.
Carers UK hears from carers who, when asking for support services, are told ‘there’s no money’ or ‘we don’t provide that service’ or ‘you’ve already had your share’. Carers can feel like they have little choice but to accept these responses, often with devastating consequences for their own health and wellbeing.The human rights of carers have been ignored by public bodies for too long.Carers who face violations can challenge them in the courts.
Ignoring carers' rights can have devastating consequences for their health and family life. Now, Carers UK shows how this may also amount to an abuse of carers' human rights. Human rights law gives carers new protection and status. We outline the main impact on carers, and how they can raise awareness of the law amongst public bodies.
http://www.carersuk.org/Getinvolved/Resources/Briefings/HumanrightsbriefingFINAL.pdf
Carers are being let down because public authorities are failing to implement the Human Rights Act. This is having serious, and potentially life-threatening, consequences. The report examines the experiences of carers in the context of the main provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998. A hard copy of the report can be purchased for £10 incl. p&p - it can be ordered from: publications@carersuk.org or tel: 0870 774 0969.
http://www.carersuk.org/Policyandpractice/Research/ResearchLibrary/ResearchHumanRightsReport.pdf
