Category: Campaigns

Mental health law proposal in Uganda will breach human rights, says civil society coalition

in Article, Campaigns, Content type, Countries, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice, Uganda

A coalition of organisations have today called on Ugandan Members of Parliament to oppose a Government-sponsored Mental Health Bill which will breach the human rights of persons with mental disabilities in the country. A position statement issued by the coalition in advance of a critical debate in Parliament next Tuesday says that the law “does…
Czechia: UN Anti-Torture Experts Express Concern Regarding Ongoing Use of Cage Beds in Psychiatry

in Article, Campaigns, Content type, Countries, Czech Republic, My Home, My Choice

The United Nations Committee against Torture has expressed concern about the continued restraint of people with mental disabilities in so-called ‘net beds’ in Czech psychiatric facilities. The comments came following a wide-ranging review of the country’s progress in stamping out torture by the UN’s top expert body, who pointed out to Czech representatives that involuntary…
Hungary must end rights abuses against persons with disabilities and stop targeting NGOs, says UN human rights committee

in Article, Campaigns, Content type, Countries, Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice, Schools For All

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has expressed concern about widespread human rights violations against persons with disabilities in Hungary. The Committee, which is the UN’s authoritative body overseeing global implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), noted that large number of persons with disabilities in Hungary continue to be institutionalised,…
Mass school segregation in Flanders breaches rights of children with mental disabilities, says top European social rights body

in Article, Belgium, Press Release, Schools For All

The European Committee of Social Rights has ruled that the systematic denial of inclusive education to tens of thousands of children with disabilities in Flanders breaches their fundamental rights. Merel Coen from Ruiselede, Belgium, was denied enrolment at her local school due to her disability. Photo: Family. In a decision on a complaint under the…
Topház: Validity acted lawfully during its visit of the institution, confirms the Hungarian data protection authority

in Article, Hungary, My Home, My Choice, Press Release

The Hungarian Data Protection Authority has found that Validity did not breach data protection and privacy rules when it visited the Topház social care institution and published its report exposing ill-treatment and neglect against residents of the institution. (Click here for Hungarian.) The Topház Special Home is a State-run residential institution for children and adults…
Hungarian government must suspend and redesign deinstitutionalisation projects

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

NGOs are demanding the suspension and redesign of deinstitutionalisation projects managed by the Hungarian government with funding from the European Commission. According to the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), the Validity Foundation (formerly MDAC) and the European Network on Independent Living, the scheme to ‘deinstitutionalise’ 29 large institutions breaches national and international laws. The projects,…
Bulgaria: Validity intervenes at European Court of Human Rights on voting rights of people with disabilities

in Article, Bulgaria, I’m A Person

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is currently examining the case of a Bulgarian man who was not allowed to vote in the parliamentary election in May 2017 due to his placement under partial guardianship. With the help of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee he has challenged his disenfranchisement before the ECtHR. Validity submitted a…
Czech Constitutional Court confirms the right of people with disabilities to accessible and adequate social services

in Article, My Home, My Choice

Yesterday, the Czech Constitutional Court ruled in favour of David Vratislav, a 24-year-old young man suing the local authorities for failing to provide him with the social services he needed. The court said that every person, including people with high support needs, has the right to receive adequate social services respecting their dignity. David Vratislav…
The faces of mental health in Uganda

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

Today, Mental Health Uganda (MHU) and Validity release a new film documenting the lives and experiences of people with mental health issues across the country. Entitled “The faces of mental health in Uganda“, the film vividly depicts the social isolation and human rights violations faced by people with mental health issues on a daily basis.…
Zambia High Court Calls for Review of Mental Health Law

in My Home, My Choice, Press Release, Zambia

Lusaka Zambia – On 17 November, Zambian disability activists from the Mental Health Users Network of Zambia (MHUNZA) and Disability Rights Watch (DRW) held a press conference on the outcome of decision of the Zambian High Court concerning the constitutionality of the 1949 Mental Disorders Act. In a Petition brought by three people with psychosocial disabilities, and…