Freedom from Cruel and Inhumane Treatment and from Abuse and Neglect (Articles 15 & 16)
Our consultations revealed evidence of widespread abuse, inhumane treatment and neglect, particularly in relation to people with cognitive and psychosocial disability and people with dementia. Medical model solutions and approaches, behaviour management regimes and significant levels of human rights ignorance by disability and medical professionals all contribute to the abuse and inhumane treatment experienced by people with disability. Significant concerns are also raised about the poor treatment and neglect of people placed in immigration detention centres who experience psychosocial disability as a result of human rights abuses and mistreatment.
Access to independent individual and systemic advocacy support and legal assistance in relation to these issues is under resourced and not available or accessible to many people with disability who need assistance to protect and promote their human rights.
This report calls for a major inquiry and significant reforms in relation to abuse, mistreatment and neglect of people with disability who are placed in institutional settings or under compulsory treatment regimes. It also recommends that governments meet their obligations to protect people made vulnerable by such neglect through improved funding for independent advocacy programs accessible to all people with disability.
