Human Rights & Fundamental Freedoms Workshop Report

Financial Security Recommendations Review & Amend Social Security Pensions Review & Amend Social Security Pensions Universal Pension created Universal Pension created NCP does not include men- review criteria to make equitable NCP does not include men- review criteria to make equitable Recognition of poverty - older persons should receive greater benefits Recognition of poverty - older persons should receive greater benefits Unemployment Benefits available for years Unemployment Benefits available for years Review payments of social benefits to older persons – amount & method of payments (MHD) Review payments of social benefits to older persons – amount & method of payments (MHD) Reverse Mortgage Programmes introduced Reverse Mortgage Programmes introduced

Healthcare Recommendations Free Medication to all Older Persons Free Medication to all Older Persons Free NHI Countrywide Free NHI Countrywide Improved Healthcare Services & Facilities Improved Healthcare Services & Facilities Convalescent / Nursing Homes Convalescent / Nursing Homes Free health visits by doctors & nurses Free health visits by doctors & nurses Greater availability of prescribed medication to rural & urban older persons – up-date formulary Greater availability of prescribed medication to rural & urban older persons – up-date formulary Free flu shots for O/P & care givers Free flu shots for O/P & care givers

Health Reform & Training Greater concern for issues of Dementia & Alzheimer's Greater concern for issues of Dementia & Alzheimer's Training in Care Giving (Families) Training in Care Giving (Families) Geriatric Training –put back in curriculum (Nursing School) Geriatric Training –put back in curriculum (Nursing School) Offer scholarships for training Geriatric specialists Offer scholarships for training Geriatric specialists Greater preventative healthcare education Greater preventative healthcare education Promote healthy / active ageing Promote healthy / active ageing Greater provision / aid to O/Ps with disabilities Greater provision / aid to O/Ps with disabilities

Recommendations for Legal Protection of Older Persons Amend all laws to benefit Older Persons Amend all laws to benefit Older Persons Social Security – access by all persons 65+ Social Security – access by all persons 65+ Tax structure – Chapter 65, Sec 29 sub sec 1,2&3 Laws of Belize Tax structure – Chapter 65, Sec 29 sub sec 1,2&3 Laws of Belize Enforce June 81 Social Security Law Enforce June 81 Social Security Law Free Legal Advice & Representation Free Legal Advice & Representation Reinforcement of Family & Childrens Act as it affects Older Persons care by family. Reinforcement of Family & Childrens Act as it affects Older Persons care by family. Implement NPOP Pg 29(I & ii) & Pg 30 (iv) Implement NPOP Pg 29(I & ii) & Pg 30 (iv) Amend laws to prevent misuse of SS Funds Amend laws to prevent misuse of SS Funds Amend laws on Property Tax Amend laws on Property Tax Increase concern & prosecution for crimes of violence against O/Ps – stiffer penalties Increase concern & prosecution for crimes of violence against O/Ps – stiffer penalties Strengthen Legal Aid Service Strengthen Legal Aid Service

Recommendations for Education & Public Awareness Dissemination of information on Older Persons to schools, media, workplaces & youth groups. Dissemination of information on Older Persons to schools, media, workplaces & youth groups. Continuous education/ training for Older Persons – Seminars & Workshops Continuous education/ training for Older Persons – Seminars & Workshops Human Rights Education Human Rights Education Community Service Programmes directed towards working with O/P Community Service Programmes directed towards working with O/P Sensitization of children to issues of ageing – include in school curriculum Sensitization of children to issues of ageing – include in school curriculum Showcase O/P – increase positive images Showcase O/P – increase positive images More awareness posters More awareness posters Use media Use media Design life plan pamphlet – preparation for older age Design life plan pamphlet – preparation for older age

Recommendations for GOB MHD - Human Services to assign responsibility to social worker for issues of O/P MHD - Human Services to assign responsibility to social worker for issues of O/P - COMPAR to assist with information & training in Human Rights of O/P - COMPAR to assist with information & training in Human Rights of O/P - to review system of social assistance payments - to review system of social assistance payments - to implement regulations for homes for O/P - to implement regulations for homes for O/P - to monitor & regulate care of O/P - to monitor & regulate care of O/P MoH - to provide training in geriatric care to personnel MoH - to provide training in geriatric care to personnel - to provide training in psychiatry & psychology - to provide training in psychiatry & psychology - to increase mental health services - to increase mental health services MoF - to provide increased resources to all orgs working with O/P MoF - to provide increased resources to all orgs working with O/P MoE - to improve curriculum to include issues of ageing and care of O/P MoE - to improve curriculum to include issues of ageing and care of O/P MND - to include issues of age in population policy MND - to include issues of age in population policy AGs Office - to provide assistance with drawing up Older Persons Act AGs Office - to provide assistance with drawing up Older Persons Act

Recommendations for Research & Data Collection Survey the present situation of O/P – Survey the present situation of O/P – up-date situational analysis Data needed to improve services Data needed to improve services # of O/Ps with Dementia / Alzheimer's cared for at home. # of O/Ps with Dementia / Alzheimer's cared for at home. # of O/P with disability needing assistance # of O/P with disability needing assistance More accurate census information More accurate census information

Upholding the Human Rights of Older Persons Legislation needed as a measures to safeguard human rights of O/P Legislation needed as a measures to safeguard human rights of O/P Amend / Enforce/ Enact laws that affect O/P Amend / Enforce/ Enact laws that affect O/P Development of an Older Persons Act – O/P are important in own right – separate from Family & Childrens Act Development of an Older Persons Act – O/P are important in own right – separate from Family & Childrens Act GOB to uphold to Basic Human Rights of O/P GOB to uphold to Basic Human Rights of O/P All O/P entitled to an identity – registration procedures to be improved to safeguard rights All O/P entitled to an identity – registration procedures to be improved to safeguard rights

Recommendations for the Organization of Older Persons O/P as educators: visit & talk in schools O/P as educators: visit & talk in schools O/P as advocates: to voice concerns and lobby for change & improvements O/P as advocates: to voice concerns and lobby for change & improvements O/P as mentors: demand respect & consideration O/P as mentors: demand respect & consideration O/P as monitors of services: e.g., health service O/P as monitors of services: e.g., health service O/P as representatives: to sit on committees & make recommendations O/P as representatives: to sit on committees & make recommendations

General Recommendations and Comments for Improvements to Situation of Older Persons Greater Respect & Consideration Greater Respect & Consideration O/P to be afforded Dignity – not to be treated condescendingly or patronized O/P to be afforded Dignity – not to be treated condescendingly or patronized Buildings should be user-friendly for O/P providing greater access and mobility Buildings should be user-friendly for O/P providing greater access and mobility Purpose built housing units/ communities Purpose built housing units/ communities Stop discrimination Stop discrimination Assistance with costs of essential services & utility costs for O/P living alone e.g., light, water, telephone and transportation Assistance with costs of essential services & utility costs for O/P living alone e.g., light, water, telephone and transportation

Strengths NCA for support and coordination NCA for support and coordination Support of Service Provider Organizations Support of Service Provider Organizations Ombudsman available to uphold human rights Ombudsman available to uphold human rights