Rule Out Abuse campaign at the Senedd
Published on 14 June 2012 08:00 AM
We're handing in a petition to the Welsh Government today to call for a new law to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
Our Rule Out Abuse Charter has been signed by more than 5,500 individuals and organisations from across Wales.
Age Cymru's Campaigns Coordinator Rhea Stevens says:
"Our Rule Out Abuse Charter is calling on the Welsh Government to make use of its newly increased law-making powers, and introduce stronger procedures to protect adults from abuse.
"The Social Services (Wales) Bill, which is being introduced to the Assembly in the autumn, provides the opportunity for the Welsh Government to do just this.
"This is the Welsh Government's chance to strengthen adult protection procedures by placing a legal duty on organisations to investigate all allegations of abuse that they hear about or are reported to them.
"We also want a duty placed on organisations to cooperate in investigations into allegations of abuse.
"This mirrors the provisions of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act which was introduced in 2007 and has been widely welcomed by adult protection workers in Scotland."
Older campaigners from across Wales and staff from Age Cymru will be handing over signatures of support for the Rule Out Abuse Charter to Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services.
Gwenda Thomas AM is the Minister responsible for the Social Services (Wales) Bill and the handover coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June.