A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?

The World Health Organization has set a target for 75% of member states to have national dementia plans by 2025. These plans should align with human rights standards, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The aim of this study was to complete a review of global national...

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Main Authors: Briony Harden, Yinuo Mao, Justin Weiss, Selina Hsuan, Orii McDermott, Michelle Funk, Natalie Drew, Katrin Seeher, Tarun Dua, Martin Orrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights 2025-06-01
Series:Health and Human Rights
Online Access:https://www.hhrjournal.org/files/2025/06/harden.pdf
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author Briony Harden
Yinuo Mao
Justin Weiss
Selina Hsuan
Orii McDermott
Michelle Funk
Natalie Drew
Katrin Seeher
Tarun Dua
Martin Orrell
author_facet Briony Harden
Yinuo Mao
Justin Weiss
Selina Hsuan
Orii McDermott
Michelle Funk
Natalie Drew
Katrin Seeher
Tarun Dua
Martin Orrell
author_sort Briony Harden
collection DOAJ
description The World Health Organization has set a target for 75% of member states to have national dementia plans by 2025. These plans should align with human rights standards, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The aim of this study was to complete a review of global national dementia plans and their human rights content according to the convention’s principles. A categorization matrix of preidentified human rights themes was produced prior to data collection and extensive inclusion criteria were adopted to ensure thorough assessment using deductive content analysis. Each dementia plan was reviewed by at least two independent assessors. Forty plans were included in the final analysis. We found that basic human rights were covered by the plans, with community inclusion acknowledged in 39 plans (97.5%). However, there was less coverage of non-coercive practices and the participation of people with dementia in the design and delivery of services or policies, with only 24 plans (60%) mentioning these aspects. This is the first global review of human rights content within national dementia plans. More must be done to ensure that all such plans align with human rights standards so that the human rights of persons with dementia are respected, protected, and promoted.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2150-4113
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-ddaa9d50f73b49f5b83c6621583c22162025-08-20T03:50:02ZengHarvard FXB Center for Health and Human RightsHealth and Human Rights2150-41132025-06-012714357A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?Briony Harden0Yinuo MaoJustin WeissSelina HsuanOrii McDermottMichelle FunkNatalie DrewKatrin SeeherTarun DuaMartin OrrellCandidate based at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Disability and Human Rights at the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, England.The World Health Organization has set a target for 75% of member states to have national dementia plans by 2025. These plans should align with human rights standards, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The aim of this study was to complete a review of global national dementia plans and their human rights content according to the convention’s principles. A categorization matrix of preidentified human rights themes was produced prior to data collection and extensive inclusion criteria were adopted to ensure thorough assessment using deductive content analysis. Each dementia plan was reviewed by at least two independent assessors. Forty plans were included in the final analysis. We found that basic human rights were covered by the plans, with community inclusion acknowledged in 39 plans (97.5%). However, there was less coverage of non-coercive practices and the participation of people with dementia in the design and delivery of services or policies, with only 24 plans (60%) mentioning these aspects. This is the first global review of human rights content within national dementia plans. More must be done to ensure that all such plans align with human rights standards so that the human rights of persons with dementia are respected, protected, and promoted.https://www.hhrjournal.org/files/2025/06/harden.pdf
spellingShingle Briony Harden
Yinuo Mao
Justin Weiss
Selina Hsuan
Orii McDermott
Michelle Funk
Natalie Drew
Katrin Seeher
Tarun Dua
Martin Orrell
A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
Health and Human Rights
title A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
title_full A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
title_fullStr A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
title_full_unstemmed A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
title_short A Content Review of National Dementia Plans: Are Human Rights Considered?
title_sort content review of national dementia plans are human rights considered
url https://www.hhrjournal.org/files/2025/06/harden.pdf
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