Category: Slovakia
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Unveiling Injustice – Conference and new reports launched
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…
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Representing Victims of Torture with Disabilities
A key cross-cutting objective for Validity is to contribute to the global push to end all forms of torture and ill-treatment faced by persons with disabilities. In this context, Validity works with partners to represent numerous victims with disabilities in Europe and Africa, with the strategic goals of ending disability-specific forms of torture, enhancing protections…
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Voices for Justice: EU justice systems must do better on rights of victims with disabilities
The justice system and its symbols are scary. In most places, courts are not about justice, they are about power. For anyone, facing these symbols of power is disabling. Start with thinking about de-focusing the power; the focus should be on justice. It is really about the humanisation of the justice system itself and making…
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Strengthening the rights of victims of crime with disabilities in Europe: From ‘blank space’ to humanising justice
The justice system is confusing and intimidating for many victims of crime, but victims with disabilities face almost insurmountable barriers. Research conducted by the Voices for Justice project in 7 EU countries, and brought together in the ‘Humanising Justice’ report published in 2022, found a ‘blank space’, as people with disabilities experience entrenched physical, attitudinal, institutional,…
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Slovakia: European Court of Human Rights condemns failure to protect the life of a girl with intellectual disability in police custody
In September, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Slovakia for failing to protect the life of a 17-year-old girl with an intellectual disability who almost died in police custody. The victim described being verbally and physically abused by the police while being taken to the police station. Then, under unclear circumstances, she fell out…
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Joint statement on suspension of the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention
Joint statement welcoming the suspension of the adoption of the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention We, organisations of persons with disabilities, non-governmental organisations, international and human rights bodies, including national human rights institutions and equality bodies, welcome the decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that suspends the…
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Romani man wins unlawful detention case against Slovak Police
Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, 4 May 2022: The Bratislava I District Court have ruled in favour of a 30-year-old Romani man with an intellectual disability who was illegally held in police custody for four weeks in 2013. The Court, in its first instance judgment, awarded the man from Moldava nad Bodvou €4,000 in compensation for his…
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Slovakia: UN Committee against Torture condemns the use of netted cage-beds
Lucia Černácova is an autistic woman with an intellectual disability. In 2006, faced with a lack of support to take care of her daughter at home, her mother had no choice but to accept that Lucia is placed in a Social Care Facility. Lucia is a person who needs individual attention and support, but the…
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Tackling Torture Against Persons with Disabilities in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic – webinar series
in Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia, ZimbabweAs the COVID-19 pandemic rages around the world, evidence is emerging that measures taken by states are resulting in severe consequences for persons with disabilities. From brutal enforcement of lockdown orders through to the denial of basic and emergency health treatment, persons with disabilities are at risk of experiencing severe pain and suffering with life-changing…
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Statement of the Coordinating Group of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor at the Opening of the Twenty-Third Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
in Article, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Honduras, Hungary, I’m A Person, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, My Home, My Choice, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Schools For All, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, Uncategorised, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia, ZimbabweAt the opening of the 23rd session of the CRPD Committee, on 17 August 2020, Validity’s Co-Executive Director, Steven Allen spoke on behalf of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Coordinating Group and shared some preliminary findings of the global survey, which was translated into 25 languages and received more than 2,100 responses from 134 countries.…