Category: Schools For All

Romania: Justice denied for Ştefan Stoian after a decade of legal action

in Article, Campaigns, Content type, Countries, Romania, Schools For All

Earlier this week, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Ştefan Stoian, a young man with quadriplegia, who took a case against Romania for denial of his right to education. The disappointing verdict came after almost a decade of legal action to secure the supports he needs to participate in mainstream schools. The judgment…
Czech Republic rolls back on inclusive education for children with disabilities

in Article, Czech Republic, Schools For All, Uncategorised

Validity is concerned that the Czech Republic is rolling back on its commitments to ensure inclusive education for children with disabilities in the country. This week, the Minister of Education signed a regulatory amendment reducing the support made available for children with special educational needs to receive a quality education in mainstream schools. The amendment…
Validity condemns exclusion of teenager from his school in Bosnia and Herzegovina

in Article, Bosnia Herzegovina, Schools For All

Slavko Mrsevic has Asperger’s syndrome – a highly functional form of disability from the autism spectrum. Slavko attended an inclusive elementary school for nine years and made strong friendships. In 2015, he moved, with his friends, to secondary school with clear recommendations for accommodations to ensure he can get the educational support he needs. Numerous…
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…
Hungary: Statement on the NGO Law

in Article, Hungary, I’m A Person, My Home, My Choice, Schools For All

Validity (formerly MDAC) expresses its unequivocal opposition to legislation passed this month in Hungary which undermines the rule of law, freedom of association and respect for fundamental rights of independent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in this country. The law, which directly affects Validity and many other human rights organisations operating in Hungary, comes amid a concerted government…
Why won’t the Romanian government let 15-year-old Stefan go to school?

in Article, Romania, Schools For All

Stefan Stoian is a 15-year-old boy and lives in Bucharest, Romania. Because of his physical and learning disabilities, access to education was never easy. In 2011 his impairments got worse but the school Stefan was going to refused to make any adjustments to accommodate his disabilities, resulting in him not being able to continue to…
Slovakia questioned at UN on institutions, education and rights of children with disabilities

in My Home, My Choice, Schools For All, Slovakia

Slovakia’s disability rights record was scrutinised by the UN’s disability expert committee this week. Validity (formerly MDAC) and Slovak NGOs sent information to the committee so that it could recommend to the Government to make progress on community-based services and make sure each child with disabilities gets an education. Validity and Slovak human rights organisations have called…
Regional African Treaty has Potential to “Strengthen Implementation” of Disability Rights on the Continent

in Article, I’m A Person, Kenya, My Home, My Choice, Schools For All, Uganda, Zambia

Validity (formerly MDAC) has provided detailed recommendations to the African Commission on Humans and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) as it develops a regional Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa. The submission draws on Validity’s extensive research on the lives of people with mental disabilities in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia and calls for “effective remedies” for…
All children have the right to inclusive education

in Article, Czech Republic, Schools For All

Despite significant pressure from civil society and the international community, the Czech Republic still denies inclusive education to tens of thousands of children with disabilities and from the Roma community. Few steps have been taken and there continues to be a lack of understanding about how to achieve full inclusion for all. Inclusive education was…