On Thursday 5 September, the European Disability Forum published its 8th report on human rights in Europe, denouncing the fact that the deprivation of legal capacity of people with disabilities persists within the European Union: no Member State fully complies with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees legal capacity through equal recognition before the law.
This deprivation has led to serious abuses such as rape, non-consensual electric shocks and forced sterilisation.
In addition, the publication warns of a proposed European regulation announced in May 2023 (see EUROPE 13191/15), on the cross-border protection of adults.
EDF argues that if people move to another country, the text would allow the country of origin to impose restrictive measures, even if the host country is more progressive.
Twelve countries are singled out for maintaining comprehensive guardianship systems that limit the autonomy of people with disabilities. The report calls for a transition to decision support systems and a ban on coercive practices.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/dbq ; https://aeur.eu/f/dbr (more accessible version) (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)