In many parts of Europe and central Asia, people with intellectual and mental health disabilities are housed in large institutions, often situated in remote areas.
In institutions people have little contact with the outside world. They have few visitors, little access to services such as advocacy and lawyers and are vulnerable to abuse. Many children face a lifetime in institutions, are denied an education and when they reach the age of 18 are simply moved to adult institutions.
Many institutionalised adults are under guardianship: they are denied the right to make choices for themselves, the opportunity for social interaction, for employment and the right to experience life in the community. Click here for MDAC reports on guardianship legislation and practice in a number of countries.
MDAC believes that countries should OPEN institutions to public scrutiny because it is only possible to know whether human rights within places of detention are protected through regular inspections by independent bodies.
Whilst providing for independent inspections, governments should commit to CLOSE institutions and ensure the provision of alternative community-based accommodation.
Our domestic, regional and international advocacy combined with strategic litigation before domestic and regional courts, aims to encourage governments to ensure that indepenent inspections do take place and that more appropriate community-based accommodation is provided. For information on our ‘Inspect’ campaign click here.
