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).
The CRPD Committee will evaluate Mexico to determine whether it is protecting and guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities in the country. However, the coalition found that persons with disabilities in Mexico are segregated and abused in institutions; suffer violence in family and in community settings; are discriminated at work, at school and in their families; cannot exercise their right to legal capacity under Mexican law; and cannot access justice.
Persons with disabilities are detained in highly dangerous institutions and may remain there for life. There is an estimated 140,000 children in institutions across the country, where they are abused and raised without the opportunity to establish any permanent family bonds. In institutions, this population faces the risk of death, torture, use of isolation rooms, physical restraints, sexual and physical abuse and forced sterilizations. They cannot report abuses and cannot access justice. “Children are dying in institutions and are subjected to daily abuse, this needs to stop now” said Priscila Rodriguez, DRI’s Associate Director.
The coalition called on Mexico to take immediate action to stop abuses against people with disabilities across the country. Disability Rights International demanded that the government stops the torture and institutionalization of thousands of children and adults, to make sure that they return to the community –and children to families- and to create the services and supports this population needs to live productive lives in the community.