Disability Rights International is carrying out the Worldwide Campaign to End the Institutionalisation of Children. The aim of the campaign is to change the perception that children are safe in institutions. It is proven that all children, including those with intellectual disabilities thrive best with their families, in their communities with the backing of family support programs.
Disability Rights International is calling for an end to institutionalisation and abuse of children.
Disability Rights International has documented abuses against children with disabilities in over 25 countries in the Americas, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The issue is not relegated to the developing world; institutionalisation and mistreatment are a worldwide problem.
Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities clearly states the right to live in the community both for adults and children. There are other articles related to the rights of children, freedom from abuse, liberty and security of person. All these rights need to be enforced and the Disability Rigths International along with other advocacy organisations use the convention to pressure governments into closing institutions and providing services that will allow children to stay with their families in their communities.
However it is not easy to end institutionalisation, governments and international donors spend millions worldwide building and rebuilding these institutions for children with disabilities while the money could be used to support families, substitute families when necessary and community services and education.
The United Nations, European governments and other international donors play a major role in perpetuating the institutionalization of children with disabilities. In developing countries, the infusion of foreign financial support can have tremendous influence on social policies and human rights. Well-meaning but misguided international donors have, unfortunately, been part of the problem in much of the world. International support has often been used to rebuild and refurbish orphanages, psychiatric facilities, and other institutions at the expense of community programs and families. This support reinforces outmoded systems of institution-based services and perpetuates discrimination and segregation of children with disabilities worldwide.
At the Disability Rights International website, it is possible to see several pictures and videos depicting the situation in different countries. For example, a video from Mexico shows that even after ratifying the UN convention the situation has not changed and people live in institutions, closed off from the rest of the community and abused.
Disability Rights International
The organisation has a campaign to stop putting children in institutions everywhere in the world.
They have found out that many big organisations like the United Nations and the European Union give money to other countries.
That money is used to build or rebuild institutions.
Disability Rights International is an organisation whose aim is to promote human rights and the full participation of people with disabilities in the community. The organisation is based in Washington DC and provides assistance to governments in developing laws and policies to promote community integration and human rights enforcement for people with mental disabilities.
source: e-include.eu