Parliament this Thursday approved the Livre bill as a whole, which creates a Charter of the Rights of Senior Citizens to promote and secure the fundamental rights and freedoms of people aged 65 and over.
The diploma, presented by Livre’s sole deputy, Ruy Tavares, was approved by votes in favor of the SDP, Liberal Initiative, PKP, BE, PAN and Livre, as well as the abstentions of the PS and Chega benches, which are now being transferred to the Constitutional Affairs Commission. Rights, freedoms and guarantees.
The legislative initiative approved indicates that there are more than 2.4 million people aged 65 and over in Portugal, representing 23.4% of the population, which means that the population aging index is 182 older people per 100 young people.
“It is important to strengthen the fight against age discrimination, reaffirming the basic principles and fundamental rights in the light of the experience and realities of older people,” the bill emphasizes.
The diploma is intended to protect and promote fundamental rights and freedoms, regardless of origin, gender, race, language, territory of origin, religion, political or ideological beliefs, education, economic status, social status, disability, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation or sex. identity and expression.
To this end, it provides that public policy for the implementation of this Charter should be subject to the principles of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity enshrined in the United Nations.
Among the principles foreseen in the diploma, it states that older persons should “have adequate access to food, water, shelter and clothing provided by their own financial resources, family and community support or social support” and that, when possible, “should be able to work or have access to other means of earning income.”
“Older people should be able to participate in all decisions about the end of their professional life and retirement,” the bill also states, which, in principle of participation, provides that older people can remain integrated into society by “actively participating in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being”.
With regard to the principle of care, the diploma emphasizes that they should enjoy adequate family and community care and social protection that ensures their dignity and physical, mental and emotional well-being.
In addition, older persons should be able to seek opportunities to reach their full potential and live in dignity and security, free from physical, verbal or psychological abuse, and should be treated fairly and adequately, regardless of their characteristics. identity, economic or social, is stated in the diploma.
It also provides that aging is a personal right and its protection a social right, and that older persons have the right to universal and non-discriminatory access to health care, namely through the National Health Service.
The diploma also provides for the right to education, culture, sports and recreation, regardless of the economic status of older people, to decent and adequate housing, whether in one’s own home, in a public or private institution, and to free urban and semi-urban public transport.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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