Crimes Against Humanity: Decades of Violence and Abuse in Mexican Institutions for Children and Adults with Disabilities

Children and adults with disabilities throughout Mexico are confined to institutions, segregated from society, and exposed to these dangers – because of the country’s failure to create social supports that would allow people to lead a full life in the community. Mexico’s law strips people with disabilities of the right to make decisions about their own lives – leaving them unable to file complaints or demand accountability when they are abused.

Webinar October 26, 2020 - Crimes Against Humanity in Mexico

Join Disability Rights International at 1 PM EST on October 26 for a live event to launch our newest report, Crimes Against Humanity: Decades of Violence and Abuse in Mexican Institutions for Children and Adults with Disabilities, detailing the grave human rights violations which children and adults with disabilities are subjected to in Mexico's institutions, orphanages, group homes and other congregate care settings throughout the country.

Online launch of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Global Report

On 22 October 2020, Validity Foundation, the European Network on Independent Living, Disability Rights International, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, the International Disability Alliance, the International Disability and Development Consortium, and the Disability Rights Fund/Disability Rights Advocacy Fund will launch the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Global Report.

October 9 - DRI holds hearing at Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Disability Rights International, the Rapporteur of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and disability and human rights organizations from Argentina, Guatemala and Peru will hold a public hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the urgent need to guarantee the right to community integration for persons with disabilities in the continent, in the context of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls for an end to police violence and abuse against persons with disabilities and their family members

The COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Coordinating Group express their alarm about increasing police violence against persons with disabilities in the context of the pandemic, and are calling on governments around the world to take urgent steps to prevent acts of brutality.

Safety through Inclusion: The Case for Emergency Deinstitutionalization - webinar series

People with disabilities, international human rights authorities, and activists discuss: Immediate threats to the health and life of children and adults in institutions due to COVID-19; Emergency protections against irreparable harm through international human rights systems; How to protect people with disabilities through community inclusion and emergency deinstitutionalization; The case for an international commission to protect people with disabilities in institutions through inclusion and emergency deinstitutionalization.

Alternative Report by Mexican Civil Society Organizations Submitted to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

This report is submitted to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter “The Committee” or “CRPD Committee”) for the working group of the pre-session 12, which will be held from September 23 to 27, 2019, to determine the list of issues for the CRPD Committee’s evaluation of Mexico.

Joint shadow report to UN CRPD Committee

Disability Rights International (DRI) and a coalition of women, children and disability rights organizations –the “Colectivo Chuhcan” A.C., EQUIS Justice for Women A.C. (EQUIS), Information Group on Elected Reproduction (GIRE), Transversal, Action on the Rights of People with Disabilities A.C. and the Mexico Children’s Rights Network (REDIM), submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the Committee (CRPD Committee).

Still in Harms Way

This report documents the human rights violations, exploitation, and trafficking of children with and without disabilities in Guatemala. Guatemala has failed to create the protections and support needed to help children live with a family – especially children with disabilities. DRI is also concerned that private charities and international donors are supporting orphanages and perpetuating discrimination. International support – including “voluntourism” – leaves children open to segregation, abuse, and further exploitation by traffickers.

Todavía en peligro

Este informe documenta violaciones a derechos humanos, explotación y trata de niñas, niños y adolescentes con y sin discapacidad en instituciones Guatemala. Guatemala no ha creado las protecciones y el apoyo necesarios para evitar que niñas, niños y adolescentes, especialmente aquellos con discapacidad y viviendo en condiciones de pobreza, terminen en instituciones. A Disability Rights International (DRI) le preocupa que organizaciones privadas y donantes internacionales, en lugar de apoyar a las familias, están apoyando instituciones. El apoyo internacional, incluyendo el "volunturismo,” a instituciones expone a las niñas, niños y adolescentes a segregación, abuso, explotación y trata.