Human rights: transforming services? - March 2006
International and domestic speakers met with social care practitioners, law professionals, policy makers and users of social care services this week to discuss how human rights legislation can affect access to social care, health, education and justice services.
The 'Human rights: transforming services?' conference - hosted by the SCIE and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), with support from the British Institute for Human Rights and Doughty Street Chambers - referred to the principles of human rights legislation, cases where law has challenged services, and the development of new policies as a direct result of legislation.
All the speakers at the conference reinforced the view that human rights are for everybody and should be used to improve services for children and families, people with mental health problems, older people and people with disabilities.
Plenary speeches and presentations
- Human rights and service improvement Jane Campbell, chair of SCIE and Disability Rights Commissioner. Presentation (115kb PDF file) Speech (36kb PDF file)
- The effect of the Human Rights Act on health and social welfare law The Honourable Mr Justice Munby, High Court Judge, Administrative Court and Family Division. Speech (59kb PDF file)
- From paupers to citizens: Independent living and human rights Judith E. Heumann, Disability and Development Advisor, World Bank. Speech (44kb PDF file)
- From paupers to citizens: Independent living and human rights Gerry Zarb, Head of Health and Independent Living Strategy, Disability Rights Commission. Speech (73kb PDF file)
- Implementing human rights principles Murray Hunt, Barrister and legal adviser to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights. Presentation (114kb PDF file)
Panel sessions
Session 1: Access to health care
- Access to health care and human rights - Richard Gordon QC and Alison Gerry (165kb PDF file)
- Access to health care and human rights: Annex of International Standards (98kb PDF file)
Session 2: Access to social care
- Access to social care - Peter Beresford (97kb PDF file)
- Access to social care - Gerry Zarb (26kb PDF file)
- Access to social care - Sue Bott (21kb PDF file)
- Access to social care - Paul Bowen (106kb PDF file)
Session 3: Access to education
Session 4: Access to justice