A/HRC/10/48
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disability, they are to be considered discriminatory and in violation of the prohibition of
deprivation of liberty on the grounds of disability, and the right to liberty on an equal basis with
others prescribed by article 14.
49. Legislation authorizing the institutionalization of persons with disabilities on the grounds
of their disability without their free and informed consent must be abolished. This must include
the repeal of provisions authorizing institutionalization of persons with disabilities for their care
and treatment without their free and informed consent, as well as provisions authorizing the
preventive detention of persons with disabilities on grounds such as the likelihood of them
posing a danger to themselves or others, in all cases in which such grounds of care, treatment and
public security are linked in legislation to an apparent or diagnosed mental illness. This should
not be interpreted to say that persons with disabilities cannot be lawfully subject to detention for
care and treatment or to preventive detention, but that the legal grounds upon which restriction of
liberty is determined must be de-linked from the disability and neutrally defined so as to apply to
all persons on an equal basis.
6. Right to live independently and be included in the community
50. The provisions of article 19 of the Convention carry far-reaching implications for all forms
of institutionalized care of persons with disabilities. The recognition of the right of persons with
disabilities to independent living and community inclusion requires the shift of government
policies away from institutions towards in-home, residential and other community support
services. The key element of any intervention aimed at giving effect to the right to independent
living and community inclusion is the explicit legal recognition of the right of persons with
disabilities to determine where and with whom to live. This recognition should also openly
reflect the unlawfulness of arrangements for residential care made against the wishes of a person
with disabilities.
51. De-institutionalization is necessary but not sufficient to achieve the goal of independent
living. In most cases, a national strategy that integrates interventions in the area of social
services, health, housing and employment, at a very minimum, will be required. For the effective
implementation of such strategies it is necessary that the independent living principle be rooted
in a legislative framework which clearly establishes it as a legal right and in turn places duties on
authorities and service providers, while also allowing for recourse in case of violation. Such
legislative frameworks shall include the recognition of the right to access the support services
required to enable independent living and inclusion in community life, and the guarantee that
independent living support should be provided and arranged on the basis of the individual’s own
choices and aspirations, in line with the principles of the Convention.44
7. Right to education
52. Compliance with article 24 of the Convention requires first and foremost the recognition of
the right of persons with disabilities to education in an inclusive education system and the
removal of legal barriers to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the regular education
44
CRPD, art. 3 (a).
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