Share your thoughts on Human Rights in city

Swansea Council and its partners are working to gain Human Rights City status and extensive engagement will take place as support is needed from a wide cross section of businesses, community groups, charities and residents.

A survey has been launched this week to help the partners understand what people already know about Human Rights and what should be the priorities in Swansea.

It is now online at www.swansea.gov.uk/humanrightssurvey with hard copies available in all council libraries from mid-November.

Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Supporting Communities, Louise Gibbard said: "There are more than 100 Human Rights Cities all over the world and the movement is growing so we want Swansea to lead the way in Wales.

"To achieve Human Rights City status means embracing a vision of vibrant, diverse, fair and safe communities built on the foundations of universal human rights.

"We want to create a city where everyone is equal, to empower people to understand their rights and to participate in the decisions that affect them.

"I would urge all residents to share their thoughts so we can understand Swansea's priorities as we embark on this journey. This could be community safety, access to a good education and health care or how to have your say in decisions that affect you. We will then work together to think about how we can address these issues on a local level."

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart added: "Important work has already taken place in Swansea, we have successfully implemented UNICEF's UK's Rights Respecting Schools Programme and we have embedded the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into the way we set our policies.

"We are a World Health Organisation Healthy City and we have recently signed the Dublin Declaration of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. We are a City of Sanctuary and we have been commended for signing-up to and implementing the Victim Support Charter.

"But there is so much more to be done and we need the views and ideas of people across Swansea as we work with all our partners to achieve our aim of becoming a Human Rights City."