Category: My Home, My Choice

Topház: European Court of Human Rights finds Hungary failed to protect right to life of residents, must investigate links between death and disability

in Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice

In a ground-breaking judgment today, the European Court of Human Rights (“the Court”) condemned Hungary for failing to protect the lives of institutionalised persons with disabilities. States must effectively investigate the context and conditions in which people in institutions die, the Court also said. The judgment sends a strong message against institutionalisation and guardianship regimes…
Topház: Az Emberi Jogok Európai Bírósága szerint Magyarország nem védte meg a lakók élethez való jogát; Magyarországnak vizsgálnia kell a fogyatékossággal élő személyek intézményi elhelyezése és ott bekövetkezett haláluk közötti összefüggéseket

in Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice

Az Emberi Jogok Európai Bírósága („a Bíróság”) a mai napon közzétett úttörő ítéletében elítélte Magyarországot, amiért nem védte meg a fogyatékossággal élő, intézményben elhelyezett személyek életét. Az államoknak hatékonyan ki kell vizsgálniuk az intézményekben elhelyezett emberek halálának összefüggéseit és körülményeit – mondta ki a Bíróság. Az ítélet határozott üzenetet küld az intézményi és gondnoksági rendszerekkel…
Republic of Korea: UN Committee against Torture Calls for Right to Remedy for Victims of Institutionalisation

in My Home, My Choice

On July 26, the UN Committee against Torture issued its Concluding Observations on the sixth periodic report of the Republic of Korea under the UN Convention against Torture. The Committee called on the Republic of Korea to provide remedies to victims of torture with disabilities affected by institutionalisation. In doing so, the Committee took an…
UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture follows the direction set by the CRPD Committee

in My Home, My Choice

In July 2024, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) published its first-ever general comment on Article 4 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (places of deprivation of liberty). To effectively fulfil the legal obligations relating to torture prevention contained in the Optional Protocol, States are obliged to give access to…
Bulgaria’s group homes: New report uncovers torture and ill-treatment of persons with disabilities

in Bulgaria, My Home, My Choice

During the 17th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17), the Validity Foundation and the Network of Independent Experts-NIE internationally launched a new monitoring report on torture and ill-treatment of persons with disabilities in Bulgarian institutions, including in small group homes. Having presented our new monitoring report…
Marking the legacy of Gábor Gombos

in Article, Campaigns, Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice

UPDATE We remember Gábor Gombos, who passed away on 5 June 2022. Gábor’s work shaped the Hungarian and international disability movement, and his stories, presentations, speeches, and thoughts went to the heart of his audience. The book titled ’The World – Without Cage Beds: World-Shaping Narratives by Gábor Gombos’ can be ordered here and downloaded…
Unveiling Injustice – Conference and new reports launched

in Article, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, I’m A Person, Lithuania, My Home, My Choice, Slovakia

Today, in collaboration with the Network of Independent Experts-NIE and the KERA Foundation, the Validity Foundation launched two major reports in Sofia, Bulgaria, during an international conference titled “Unveiling Injustice: Deinstitutionalisation and intersectionality in disability rights.” One of the reports is the outcome of a series of pre-unannounced monitoring visits, which we conducted to 14…
The European Committee of Social Rights requests that Council of Europe Member States introduce proper inclusive education and deinstitutionalisation processes.

in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, My Home, My Choice, Schools For All

At the end of March 2024, the European Committee of Social Rights published its Conclusions 2023 and Findings 2023 and called on Council of Europe Member States to introduce proper inclusive education and deinstitutionalisation processes. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) published its 2023 Conclusions in respect of the articles of the European Social…
Breaking Barriers: European Court Judgment Exposes Discrimination and Abuse of Children with Disabilities in Moldova

in Moldova, My Home, My Choice

Today, the European Court of Human Rights issued a ground-breaking judgment in the case of V.I. v Moldova, highlighting critical issues of discrimination on the basis of disability and age which resulted in ill-treatment against a child with an intellectual disability. The Court found the problems to be systemic, requiring the government to take legal…
Topház: Court rules Hungarian state authorities responsible for grave disability rights violations

in Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice, Press Release

The Budapest Capital Court today issued a judgment finding three state authorities responsible for multiple, grave violations of the rights of 220 adults and children with disabilities detained in the notorious Topház Social Care Home. Validity first exposed the shocking abuses in 2017, reporting on filthy living conditions, violence, torture and ill-treatment, malnutrition and the…