DIICOT has become more familiar with the legislation and with the social assistance standards for institutionalized persons with disabilities than the competent authorities have.
The recent raids in social care homes (some being private, but financed by public money) where adults and elderly persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities are confined (Vrancea, Park Lake Bucharest) are an additional argument for the Romanian Government to urgently adopt a National Action Plan for the prevention of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as requested by The Committee of Ministers under The Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
The Center for Legal Resources (CLR) has been making unannounced visits, in the last 20 years, to public and private social care homes where persons with disabilities are confined. Our monitoring reports in Ilfov County (Sf. Gabriel cel Viteaz Social Care Home, Armonia Social Care Home, Cora Social Care Home) were picked up by investigative journalists from the “The Investigative Media Center” and “Buletin de București” (Media Investigations). The documentation coordinated by Ovidiu Vanghele has led to the cumulation of even more evidence and has drawn public attention to the abuses to which these persons are subjected.
Despite the fact that CLR has referred the matter to ALL the relevant authorities – none of them has taken concrete action on the issues raised so far.
Currently, access to social care homes remains restricted for CLR as the Minister of Labour cancelled the cooperation protocol trying to diminish the influence and block the unannounced visits CLR was taking in social care homes searching for human rights violations.
