Moldova: Validity calls on European Court of Human Rights to recognise forced abortion and sterilisation as torture
Validity has intervened before the European Court of Human Rights (“the Court”) in the case G.M. and others v. the Republic of Moldova. Our intervention highlights that forced sterilisation and forced abortion are forms of torture and ill-treatment, and constitute systemic discrimination against women… Read More
Ukraine: Validity urges European Court of Human Rights to condemn forensic psychiatric detention
Recently, Validity intervened in the case of Tymoshenko v. Ukraine brought by a young woman with a psychosocial disability who was detained and treated against her will in a psychiatric hospital. The Ukrainian prosecution accused Ms Tymoshenko of hurting another person. Read More
Bulgaria: Stefan Stankov continues his fight for independence
For 20 years, Stefan Stankov has been fighting for recognition as a person under the law. Sadly, his journey is one familiar to many people with psychosocial disabilities. Mr. Stankov was deprived of his legal capacity in 1999 and then institutionalised for 15 years. He lived in… Read More
Hungary: Budapest Court confirms Government must release the names of public guardians on request
Topház Social Care Institution became widely known after Validity revealed the inhumane and horrific treatment of its residents in a 2017 report. 220 residents were subject to torture and ill-treatment in Topház. Children as well as adult residents were put in metal cage beds, routinely chemically and/or physically restrained, were underweight, and physically, mentally and emotionally neglected. Topház is a closed… Read More
Investigating Bulgaria’s failed approach to deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities – new report
Validity, with the contribution of Bulgarian experts including persons with disabilities, has launched a globally relevant new report entitled “Deinstituionalisation and life in the community in Bulgaria“. The report points out that the Bulgarian deinstitutionalisation (DI) process has failed thousands of children and adults with disabilities in the country, condemning… Read More
Czechia: Mass institutionalisation of older persons with disabilities – new report
Validity together with its Czech partner, FORUM for Human Rights has launched a major new report on “Institutionalisation, disability and ageing”. The report focuses on the large-scale institutionalisation of older persons with disabilities in the Czech Republic, exposes the failures of government policy to implement policies that maintain dignity for older persons, and calls for a… Read More
Involuntary Detention and Treatment: European Court of Human Rights Rejects Request to Provide an Opinion on Interpretation of Oviedo Convention
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a request from the Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics (DH-BIO) to provide an advisory opinion on questions related to involuntary treatment and involuntary detention of persons with psychosocial disabilities under Article 29 of the Oviedo Convention. DH-BIO’s request for… Read More
Hungary: Validity takes action to stop segregation of children with disabilities at nursery school
In September 2020, a nursery in the town of Vác, situated 40 kilometres from Budapest, reversed previous progress towards inclusion and began segregating children with disabilities from their peers without disabilities. Outraged parents strongly objected to the new practice introduced by the Head of Institution of Nurseries and People with… Read More
Call to action to protect the right to family life & prevent institutionalization for all children
The signatories to this call to action acknowledge the leadership of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in their efforts to harmonize international human rights standards concerning children deprived of parental care. Read More
Hungary: Lack of transparency prevents progress on independent living
Validity and our partners continue to advocate for concrete steps to enhance human rights protections for persons with disabilities in Hungary. However, we are concerned that a lack of transparency and accountability is preventing genuine progress on independent living. We call on both Hungary and the European Union to recommit… Read More
Hungary: Disability rights organisations address lack of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities through the UN’s Universal Periodic Review
Yesterday, Validity Foundation together with the Hungarian Autistic Society, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Living Independently in the Community Advocacy Group, and the Step by Step! Association submitted a shadow report to the Universal Periodic Review… Read More