National Benchbooks on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Criminal Proceedings

This set of National Bench Books addresses the significant barriers that persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities face in accessing justice, particularly in criminal proceedings. Despite the obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the EU legal framework, outdated national laws and the lack of appropriate accommodations often hinder these individuals from fully participating in trials. Each Bench Book is tailored to a single national context of the ENABLE project’s implementing countries, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain, drawing on best practices and standards collected during the ENABLE project, providing practical guidance to ensure that defendants with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities can effectively exercise their rights.

Primarily aimed at judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and law enforcement officers, these Bench Books serve as practical guides for handling cases involving persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. They offer tools and recommendations to address legal, environmental, informational, and attitudinal barriers, ensuring these individuals can participate equally in criminal proceedings. While the focus is on defendants, the principles outlined also apply to other participants with similar disabilities, such as victims and witnesses, across various legal contexts.

Bulgaria – available in English, in Bulgarian as well as in Bulgarian Easy-to-Read