Recently, Validity intervened in the case of Tymoshenko v. Ukraine brought by a young woman with a psychosocial disability who was detained and treated against her will in a psychiatric hospital. The Ukrainian prosecution accused Ms Tymoshenko of hurting another person. Read More
For 20 years, Stefan Stankov has been fighting for recognition as a person under the law. Sadly, his journey is one familiar to many people with psychosocial disabilities. Mr. Stankov was deprived of his legal capacity in 1999 and then institutionalised for 15 years. He lived in… Read More
Topház Social Care Institution became widely known after Validity revealed the inhumane and horrific treatment of its residents in a 2017 report. 220 residents were subject to torture and ill-treatment in Topház. Children as well as adult residents were put in metal cage beds, routinely chemically and/or physically restrained, were underweight, and physically, mentally and emotionally neglected. Topház is a closed… Read More
Validity, with the contribution of Bulgarian experts including persons with disabilities, has launched a globally relevant new report entitled “Deinstituionalisation and life in the community in Bulgaria“. The report points out that the Bulgarian deinstitutionalisation (DI) process has failed thousands of children and adults with disabilities in the country, condemning… Read More
Validity together with its Czech partner, FORUM for Human Rights has launched a major new report on “Institutionalisation, disability and ageing”. The report focuses on the large-scale institutionalisation of older persons with disabilities in the Czech Republic, exposes the failures of government policy to implement policies that maintain dignity for older persons, and calls for a… Read More
In September 2020, a nursery in the town of Vác, situated 40 kilometres from Budapest, reversed previous progress towards inclusion and began segregating children with disabilities from their peers without disabilities. Outraged parents strongly objected to the new practice introduced by the Head of Institution of Nurseries and People with… Read More
The signatories to this call to action acknowledge the leadership of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in their efforts to harmonize international human rights standards concerning children deprived of parental care. Read More
Validity and our partners continue to advocate for concrete steps to enhance human rights protections for persons with disabilities in Hungary. However, we are concerned that a lack of transparency and accountability is preventing genuine progress on independent living. We call on both Hungary and the European Union to recommit… Read More
Yesterday, Validity Foundation together with the Hungarian Autistic Society, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Living Independently in the Community Advocacy Group, and the Step by Step! Association submitted a shadow report to the Universal Periodic Review… Read More
The European Commission has refused to make public documents submitted to it by the Hungarian Government concerning the use of European Union Structural and Investment Funds to finance the renovation and construction of institutions that segregate and discriminate against persons with disabilities. Validity, kindly assisted by… Read More
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages around the world, evidence is emerging that measures taken by states are resulting in severe consequences for persons with disabilities. From brutal enforcement of lockdown orders through to the denial of basic and emergency health treatment, persons with disabilities are at risk of experiencing severe… Read More
Easy-to-read version: Click here It is with grave concern that the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls on governments to take immediate emergency measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to food, medication, and other essential supplies. Analysis by the… Read More