A/HRC/40/50 111. For children with disabilities the risk of violence is particularly high – indeed, they are almost four times more likely to experience violence than children without disabilities.28 And for children with mental or intellectual disabilities the risk may be especially high, including the risk of sexual violence.29 112. Children with disabilities are also exposed to a high risk of placement in institutions, where poor conditions endanger their health, development and well-being, where they do not receive the individual attention they require, and where they may suffer abusive attitudes and behaviour, as well as harassment, beatings and isolation, by poorly trained staff.30 113. For too long, children with disabilities have been left behind. Addressing violence against children with disabilities has been a key concern for the mandate of the Special Representative. In September 2018 in Bangkok, the Special Representative joined the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility to launch the 10 principles for the protection, well-being and development of girls, boys and adolescents with disabilities. This campaign was developed with the participation of children with disabilities and is aimed at the elimination of violence. 114. The 10 principles express important messages from children with disabilities, including the following: “I exist as I am, and I am a person just like you. I deserve to be respected and have my diversity valued. I have the same dignity and human rights as you and everyone else”; “I want you to accept me as I am, help me develop my abilities and talents and give me a good-quality education”; and “I want you to respect me and protect me from all forms of violence … Just as anyone else, my body, my soul and my mind deserve to be protected.” 115. Framed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children,31 the section below builds upon the decision of the Human Rights Council to devote special attention to the empowerment of children with disabilities for the enjoyment of their human rights. It addresses social exclusion, institutionalization, the neglect and abuse that children with disabilities often encounter, how violence aggravates the risk of mental health disorders, and how to promote the protection of children with disabilities from all forms of violence. 116. Disability, social exclusion, poor health and violence often go hand in hand. The incidence of disability is higher among children belonging to poorer households, where they also lack access to basic social services of quality and in turn miss opportunities for early detection, treatment and recovery, and for meaningful participation in social life. 117. Families of children with disabilities face extra medical, housing and transport costs; they miss employment opportunities and face marginalization. Heavy care demands and high levels of stress, lack of support and services, and a deep sense of isolation aggravate the risk of violence within the household. Some families respond with neglect. Others shield the child from contact with the outside world, including in order to protect him or her from abuse and stigmatization. 118. Stigma and prejudice related to disability, as well as barriers in the environment, make it much more difficult for children with disabilities to attend school, to access health care, to participate in the community and to seek remedies and support when they are victims of violence. 119. Indeed, children with disabilities are less likely to attend school, limiting their opportunities to develop their talents and abilities and access employment opportunities later in life. Weak investment in national budgets for education, high costs for families, and 28 29 30 31 See www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2012/child_disabilities_violence_20120712/en/. See https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SOWC_2013_75.pdf, p. 52. Available at www.unviolencestudy.org/, pp. 175–190. General Assembly resolution 64/142. 17