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From horror to hope….because of you!

Dear Friend of DRI,       

Several years ago, DRI investigated and exposed the horrendous conditions of thousands of poor and disabled children living in institutions in Serbia. So egregious were the abuses, that we called what we had uncovered torture. The United Nations’ top experts agreed with us and DRI led an international campaign to end torture in Serbian orphanages. As a result, Serbia banned new placements in orphanages, supporting families instead.

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No Way Home: The Exploitation and Abuse of Children in Ukraine’s Orphanages

A product of a three-year investigation by Disability Rights International (DRI) into the egregious human rights violations perpetrated against nearly 100,000 children – with and without disabilities – who are left to grow up segregated from society in orphanages, psychiatric facilities, residential boarding schools, and other institutions. For children with disabilities, orphanages are a gateway to lifelong institutionalization in abusive adult facilities.
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Left Behind: The Exclusion of Children and Adults with Disabilities from Reform and Rights Protection in the Republic of Georgia

This report is the product of a 3-year investigation by Disability Rights International (DRI) into the orphanages, adult social care homes and other institutions that house children and adults with disabilities in the Republic of Georgia.

This report documents violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Georgia under international human rights treaties ratified by Georgia, including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UN Convention against Torture, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Georgia has signed.
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DRI Ambassador Holly Valance Promotes Worldwide Campaign to End Institutionalization of Children

London - June 26, 2013 - Disability Rights International Ambassador and UK actress Holly Valance, along with her husband Nick Candy and Camilla and Celestine Clauson, also patrons of DRI, accompanied DRI on a recent trip to Eastern Europe to visit institutions and promote the

an emaciated young child restrained in its crib

Torment Not Treatment: Serbia’s Segregation and Abuse of Children and Adults 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.
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NBC News: Serbia's horrific institutions a relic of the past
emaciated teenager found in an adult psychiatric institution

Hidden Suffering: Romania’s Segregation and Abuse of Infants and Children with Disabilities

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.
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Behind Closed Doors: Human Rights Abuses in the Psychiatric Facilities, Orphanages and Rehabilitation Centers of Turkey

Inhuman and degrading conditions of confinement are widespread throughout the Turkish mental health system. This report documents Turkey’s violations of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture (ECPT), the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other internationally accepted human rights and disability rights standards.
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New York Times Opinion Pages: Turkey's Disabled
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Not on the Agenda: Human Rights of People with Mental Disabilities in Kosovo

This report documents the treatment of people with mental disabilities in internationally funded public mental health and social services in Kosovo. The report relies on international human rights conventions to which the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and local government authorities in Kosovo have binding obligations, with particular reference to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
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