Across the world, countless persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are unjustly labeled as “incompetent,” “incapable,” and “unreasonable.” They are stripped of their autonomy, forced into punitive guardianship systems, and denied their right to legal capacity—a fundamental safeguard for protecting all other human rights.
Current Restrictions
Under these oppressive systems, persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are often:
- Denied the right to vote
- Barred from marriage
- Prevented from managing their own finances
- Restricted in choosing where and how to live
These restrictions not only violate fundamental human rights but also reinforce stigma and perpetuate harmful stereotypes, treating people as less than full members of society.
We reject a world where control and restriction define the lives of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. Instead, we call upon governments to abolish outdated guardianship regimes and replace them with supported decision-making, ensuring independent living and full inclusion in the community.
Legal capacity is not just a right—it is the foundation for dignity, freedom, and self-determination. Every person deserves the power to shape their own future, make their own choices, and be recognised as the authors of their own lives.