People with disabilities are losing control over their everyday lives, and are even risking abuse and neglect, because of laws and practices that strip them of legal capacity, said the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, INN reports from Source
People’s opportunities to participate in society are drastically reduced when they are deprived of the fundamental right to make decisions, Catalina Devandas told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“Many people with disabilities are denied the possibility of exercising their rights and making their own decisions on the wrong assumption that it is for their own good and that of society,” the expert said.
“But this practice has proved to be wrong, as it only increases the risk of violence, abuse and neglect, leaving people with disabilities defenceless.
“People with disabilities should have the opportunity to access support to make decisions. Positive examples of supported decision-making are emerging around the world, showing the way this fundamental right can be fulfilled,” said Ms. Devandas, presenting her full report on the issue.
“Unlike a few years ago, when there were not many experiences or good practices to draw on, today we have a range of models and practices that States can use to transform their own systems to fully ensure the right to legal capacity of all people with disabilities,” she told the Human Rights Council. “This is a real opportunity for progress.”
The expert acknowledged that, since the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in 2008, many States have introduced law reforms; but warned that these efforts were not yet fully complete and could become ineffective without systemic, comprehensive and sustainable policy reform.
“We are witnessing significant policy innovations,” Ms. Devandas added. “The process of transformation may not be as fast as we wish, but the recognition that everyone – with or without disabilities – is equal before the law is a historical imperative that must be universally accepted.”
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