For any criminal justice system to work effectively, it is essential to take into account the rights of persons with mental disabilities given that they are more likely than the rest of the population to be involved in criminal proceedings – either as defendants, victims or witnesses.During criminal proceedings, these persons with physical and mental disabilities face numerous obstacles to effective exercise of their right to justice.

Con base en lo observado en la visita al Hospital Federico Mora y en la información recabada en numerosas entrevistas –realizadas tanto a personal actual y pasado de la institución, pacientes, y a otras personas relacionadas con el tema en Guatemala–, concluimos que el Hospital Federico Mora es la institución más peligrosa que DRI haya documentado en Latinoamérica.

Based on our observations from visiting the Federico Mora Hospital and from collecting dozens of testimonies from current and former staff, patients, and other sources in Guatemala, we have come to the conclusion that the Federico Mora Hospital is the most dangerous facility our investigators have witnessed anywhere in the Americas.

From August 2009 through September 2010, DRI and the CMDPDH investigated psychiatric institutions, orphanages, shelters, and other public facilities that house children and adults with disabilities. This report documents violations of the rights of people with disabilities under the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other human rights treaties ratified by Mexico.

Desde agosto de 2009 hasta septiembre de 2010, DRI y la CMDPDH investigaron instituciones psiquiátricas, orfanatos, albergues y otras instituciones públicas que albergan a niños y adultos con discapacidad.* Este informe documenta violaciones de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad bajo la nueva Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (CDPD) y otros tratados de derechos humanos ratificados por México.

Electric Shock and Long-Term Restraint in the United States on Children and Adults with Disabilities at the Judge Rotenberg Center.

Bringing Vietnam’s Laws into Compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

From July 2003 to August 2007, MDRI has documented a broad array of human rights violations against people with disabilities, segregated from society and forced to live out their lives in institutions (all observations in this report are from December 2006 through August 2007 except as noted). Filthy conditions, contagious diseases, lack of medical care and rehabilitation, and a failure to provide oversight renders placement in a Serbian institution life-threatening.

Documents human rights violations perpetrated against approximately 25,000 people detained in Argentina’s psychiatric institutions. More than 80 percent of these people are detained for more than a year— and many are detained for life. Two-thirds of all psychiatric beds are part of the public health system.

This report documents a broad range of atrocious conditions for children with disabilities inside Romania’s institutions. While Romania has reduced its orphanage population and created foster care placements for many children, the reforms have left behind children with disabilities. This report documents serious human rights violations against children with disabilities in an institution for babies and in adult facilities.