Human rights unbound: An unrepentant call for a more complete application of human rights in relation to older persons-And beyond

This article argues that, in relation to ageing issues in Australian society, we need to more strongly embrace an explicit and comprehensive human rights framework in analysing what is going on in our society and to adopt a much more robust and demanding human rights approach to policy development and holding government accountable for its actions and inaction. This means not just the explicit invocation of existing human rights norms to ageing issues, but also the development of new norms and interpretations of human rights that more fully reflect the perspectives of older persons than current mainstream norms do. The argument is developed through an analysis of reports of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and into Violence against Persons with Disabilities. It maintains that these bodies and others engaged in policymaking relating to older persons in Australian society can enhance their work by systematically applying a comprehensive and robust human rights framework.