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The Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities in the New Mexican Criminal Justice System

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.

Watch DRI's Video Documentation of Human Rights Violations in Mexican Institutions

March 26, 2012--Washington, DC--On Friday, Disability Rights International (DRI) and a coalition of partners from Mexico challenged the Mexican government at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Eric Rosenthal, Executive Director of DRI, presented video evidence of torture in Mexico's psychiatric institutions, orphanages and other social care facilities. Please watch and share DRI's video testimony.

Disability Rights International to Testify on Torture in Mexico

Washington, DC – March 20, 2012 – Disability Rights International (DRI) and a coalition of partners from Mexico will testify before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) at a public hearing this Friday.  DRI’s findings in Mexico are “deeply disturbing” said DRI Executive Director Eric Rosenthal, J.D., “and the Mexican government must be pressured to protect its most vulnerable citizens – those locked away for a lifetime because they have a disability – living in orphanages, psychiatric institutions and other social care facilities.”

DRI finds children and adults with disabilities disappeared, trafficked, and abused in Mexico’s psychiatric facilities and orphanages

  • Click here to watch ABC Nightline Coverage
  • Click here to read about DRI's investigation in the New York Times

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – November 30, 2010 – Following a year- long investigation, Disability Rights International (DRI) and the Comisión Méxicana de Defensa y Promoción de

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Abandoned and Disappeared: Mexico’s Segregation and Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities

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.
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ABC Nightline Coverage & New York Times
report cover with an image of a person sitting in wheelchair. They look thin and frail, and are sitting curled up in a ball, hugging their knees into their chest and with their face buried in their knees.

Human Rights and Mental Health, Mexico

The report is the product of three fact-finding investigations conducted in Mexico in July 1996, August 1998 and November 1999. During these missions, a team of attorneys and psychiatrists from MORI visited three long-term psychiatric facilities (Ramirez Moreno, Nieto, and Sayago) serving Mexico City and the State of Mexico.
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NY Times Magazine: The Global Willowbrook; Humane treatment for the mentally il…

NY Times Magazine - The Global Willowbrook: Humane treatment for the mentally ill is the newest goal of human rights activists, whose current target is Mexico's decrepit institutions

NY Times Magazine - The Global Willowbrook: Humane treatment for the mentally ill is the newest goal of human rights activists, whose current target is Mexico's decrepit institutions

Read the article here

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