1 Convention Text
1.1 States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative,
social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities,
both within and outside the home, from all forms of exploitation, violence and
abuse, including their gender-based aspects. R1
1.2 States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all forms
of exploitation, violence and abuse by ensuring, inter alia, appropriate forms
of gender- and age-sensitive assistance and support for persons with
disabilities and their families and caregivers, including through the provision
of information and education on how to avoid, recognise and report instances of
exploitation, violence and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection
services are age-, gender- and disability-sensitive. R2
1.3 In order to prevent the occurrence of all forms of exploitation, violence
and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all facilities and programmes
designed to serve persons with disabilities are effectively monitored by
independent authorities. R3
1.4 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical,
cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of
persons with disabilities who become victims of any form of exploitation,
violence or abuse, including through the provision of protection services. Such
recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment that fosters the
health, welfare, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the person and takes into
account gender- and age-specific needs. R4
1.5 States Parties shall put in place effective legislation and policies,
including women- and child-focused legislation and policies, to ensure that
instances of exploitation, violence and abuse against persons with disabilities
are identified, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.
2 Declaration of Needs and Characteristics
2.1 Two studies undertaken under the auspices of the European Blind Union in
2003 found anecdotal evidence that blind and partially-sighted people,
especially women and girls, are subjected to a higher incidence of violence
compared to the rest of the population. This violence can be sustained over long
periods of time.
2.2 Blind and partially-sighted people are in an especially vulnerable position
when they are recipients of violence. They may not be able to physically
identify their attacker. They may not be aware that there are any witnesses to
the attack that they are experiencing. They may not have the information they
need to seek help if the violence they are experiencing is being perpetrated by
a relative, friend or acquaintance.
2.3 There is currently insufficient statistical data collected and collated in
European countries to establish the extent to which violence experienced by
blind and partially-sighted people is higher than for the rest of the
population.
2.4 Blind and partially-sighted women and girls, like their normally sighted
contemporaries who have experienced violence, need to have access to support
services such as refuges.
2.5 Blind and partially-sighted children and young people can be particularly
vulnerable to violence or abuse from relatives, carers or professional staff
because of their visual impairments. They can also be especially vulnerable to
bullying or harassment from their normally sighted peers. Many blind and
partially-sighted children and young people have additional sensory, physical,
learning and/or emotional disabilities that can increase their vulnerability to
abuse and violence.
2.6 Blind and partially-sighted people who receive community or residential care
because of age or additional disabilities are also vulnerable to abuse,
violence, bullying, harassment or exploitation from relatives, carers,
professional staff and other residents.
3 Important Aspects of Convention Text
3.1 Convention text - R1 1. States Parties shall take all appropriate
legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect
persons with disabilities, both within and outside the home, from all forms of
exploitation, violence and abuse, including their gender-based aspects.
3.2 Requirement - Government agencies should collect, collate and publish
statistical information on the incidence and nature of violence (that
constitutes a legal offence) experienced by blind and partially-sighted women,
men, girls and boys.
3.3 Requirement - Governmental agencies should give priority to collecting age
and gender specific information about the nature and incidence of violence
experienced by blind and partially-sighted people and to apprehending suspects.
3.4 Convention text - R2. 2. States Parties shall also take all appropriate
measures to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse by ensuring,
inter alia, appropriate forms of gender- and age-sensitive assistance and
support for persons with disabilities and their families and caregivers,
including through the provision of information and education on how to avoid,
recognise and report instances of exploitation, violence and abuse. States
Parties shall ensure that protection services are age-, gender- and
disability-sensitive.
3.5 Convention text - R3. 3. In order to prevent the occurrence of all forms of
exploitation, violence and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all
facilities and programmes designed to serve persons with disabilities are
effectively monitored by independent authorities.
3.6 Requirement - Agencies responsible for inspecting the provision of care and
education of blind and partially-sighted children and young people must ensure
that their policies and practices take full account of the fact that they are
vulnerable to violence or abuse from relatives, carers, peers or professional
staff because of their visual impairments and that many blind and partially
sighted children and young people have additional disabilities, thereby
increasing their vulnerability.
3.7 Requirement - Staff employed by agencies responsible for inspecting and
regulating education, social, vocational and other services for blind and
partially-sighted people must receive training to appreciate why blind and
partially-sighted people are more vulnerable to violence, abuse and
exploitation, to recognise the circumstances that increase their vulnerability
and the signs that such incidents have occurred.
3.8 Convention text - R4 4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures
to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation
and social reintegration of persons with disabilities who become victims of any
form of exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of
protection services. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an
environment that fosters the health, welfare, self-respect, dignity and autonomy
of the person and takes into account gender- and age-specific needs.
3.9 Requirement - Government agencies should promote and support the
establishment and publicise a range of supportive services and activities that
have the capability to assist blind and partially-sighted women and girls who
are experiencing, or are threatened with violence, as well as provide services
to help blind and partially-sighted people to recover from the psychological and
other effects of violence and abuse. This will require active collaboration with
organisations that provide shelter, counselling and listening services or other
support services for women who are victims of violence.
TA
17/12/07