Disability Rights

Disability Rights

Globally, many of the world's one billion individuals with disabilities struggle for access to education and employment, for the right to live in the community instead of being locked up in institutions, to express their sexuality and have children, and to participate in political and social life. Individuals with physical and mental disabilities often face increased violence and discrimination, yet they remain invisible in their communities. Download the complete brochure.

At Heavenly Ministries Spiritual Revival and Healing Center, some people with presumed mental disabilities lived in buildings with cubicles for each resident and were chained to walls. They could not leave the cubicles without permission of the staff at the prayer camp.

© 2011 Shantha Rau Barriga/Human Rights Watch

Involuntary Treatment: The Invisible Health Care Crisis

In his new report, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez, the UN’s leading expert on torture, has drawn attention to severe abuses, such as neglect, mental and physical abuse and sexual violence, against people with mental or intellectual disabilities in health-care settings.

Statement before the CRPD Committee on the Day of General Discussion on Women and Girls with Disabilities

Apr 17, 2013
Protect rights of women, girls with disabilities

Apr 16, 2013
Statement at the opening session of the CRPD Committee

Apr 15, 2013
Submission to Online Consultation on Disability and Development

Apr 5, 2013

Subscribe to content feed

Reports

“Like a Death Sentence”

Abuses against Persons with Mental Disabilities in Ghana
"I Want to be a Citizen Just like Any Other"

Barriers to Political Participation for People with Disabilities in Peru
Futures Stolen

Barriers to Education for Children with Disabilities in Nepal

Disability Rights

Statement before the CRPD Committee on the Day of General Discussion on Women and Girls with Disabilities

Apr 17, 2013
Protect rights of women, girls with disabilities

Apr 16, 2013
Statement at the opening session of the CRPD Committee

Apr 15, 2013
Submission to Online Consultation on Disability and Development

Apr 5, 2013
Letter to United Nations Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities on Upcoming Review of Australia

Apr 3, 2013
Letter to United Nations CRPD on Half Day of General Discussion on Women and Girls with Disabilities

Apr 3, 2013
Ghana: People With Mental Disabilities Face Serious Abuse

Mar 31, 2013

This week’s high-level ministerial meeting about gender equality in international development assistance should promote the rights and needs of women with disabilities, Human Rights Watch said today. Specifically, governments should address the marginalization of women with disabilities in the declaration to be adopted on July 1, 2010.
UN: Emphasize Rights in Development Agenda

Mar 25, 2013

The United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda should be grounded in human rights, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the UN High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Letter to the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Mar 24, 2013

Human Rights Watch welcomes the High-level Panel’s efforts to advance a Post-2015 Development Agenda that seeks to learn from and build on the progress achieved through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Post-2015 consultations have revealed a strong international consensus for placing human rights at the center of the Post-2015 framework. The human rights framework unites the core aims of economic development, equality, and environmental sustainability, and its use will ensure accountability for the new agenda by anchoring it in existing international human rights obligations.
UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the Outcome of Ghana's UPR

Mar 14, 2013

Human Rights Watch welcomes the recommendations in the UPR report and Ghana’s commitment to implementing reforms to protect the rights of people with disabilities. But our research in Ghana found a significant number of serious human rights abuses that must be addressed immediately.

more documents on this topic »