“Forgotten Europeans”

A joint report by the UN Human Rights office, (OHCHR) and UNICEF documents human rights of people placed in institutions, particularly children and violation of human rights of persons with disabilities. The UN is advocating for de-institutionalisation and is emphasizing the need for community care.

According to the report an estimated 1.2 million children and adults with disabilities are living in long-stay residential institutions across the European Union. Another survey estimates that there are 150,000 children living in residential care settings across the EU.

The video below highlights the experiences of Mikhail in Moldova and Assen in Bulgaria who both grew up in institutional care.

6 January 2012