STOP THE ABUSES IN CENTRES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES!
Author: Centre for Legal Resources, Recipient: Romanian Senate
PETITION
Dear Senators,
I consider the way persons with mental disabilities are treated in Romania is a national shame. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Romania in 2010, compels the Romanian state to create an Independent Monitoring Mechanism, in order to prevent the violation of human rights among the institutionalized persons with mental disabilities and to contribute to deinstitutionalization. After more than 4 years of postponement, a solution is finally in the Senate’s hands.
I am asking you to vote for the law proposal nr. 303/2015, which supports the creation of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, meant to prevent the abuses on the rights of institutionalized persons with mental disabilities.
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CONTEXT
25.000 children and adults with mental disabilities live in specialized social and medical care institutions, falling under the international legal definition of being ‘deprived of liberty’. Although the stated purpose of these institutions is to support these people’s rehabilitation, recovery and integration within the community, none of these things actually happen. Moreover, 1.500 persons with mental disabilities place under the state’s “care” system died between 2011 and 2014, according to the data provided by local authorities from 27 out of 41 counties which have responded to our request for information. The number of deaths could be much higher, and they are rarely investigated contrary to what the law requires.
This fall, senators will vote on the establishment of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, a law proposal initiated by the Romanian civil society after more than 10 years of experience in conducting unannounced monitoring visits in specialized social and medical care institutions for persons with mental disabilities.
Without a system that oversees that human rights are respected and that residents can complain if their rights are violated, behind closed doors unimaginable abuses occur: institutionalization on grounds of disability, the lack of community services, punishment by immobilisation and isolation, inadequate education, psychological and medical services, poor hygiene, overcrowded rooms, limited access to justice.
Ask the senators to vote for the law proposal nr. 303/2015, which establishes the implementation of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, meant to prevent the abuses on the rights of institutionalized persons with mental disabilities.
