AARP Personal and Legal Rights Principles

These principles guide AARP’s policies on personal and legal rights and protections in the legal system.

Guarantee freedom from discrimination—all people have the right to be free from discrimination. Strong and expansive legal protections must be available to stop and deter discrimination.

Ensure protection and safety—strong legal protections against crime, abuse, exploitation, and neglect must be established and enforced to protect incapacitated and vulnerable adults.

Empower and respect personal and financial choices—people have the right to make personal and financial decisions. Individuals who are incapacitated have the right to have their wishes carried out and to be cared for respectfully.

Safeguard rights—courts and legal processes must provide procedural and substantive safeguards to protect individual rights.

Ensure redress—people should be able to obtain fair redress for violations of civil rights and other statutes. All individuals should have full and meaningful access to the justice system.

Promote vigorous enforcement—courts and agencies should broadly interpret and rigorously enforce civil rights and other statutes.