Communications on the Closing of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor

In mid-2020, over the span of nearly four months, 2,152 respondents from 134 countries took the time to raise their voices to share their lives in the midst of a global pandemic. The majority of respondents were persons with disabilities, who responded from a range of locations -within institutions, locked down in their homes and isolated within their communities- as the sought to get accurate information on the COVID-19 virus.

COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Report highlights catastrophic global failure to protect the rights of persons with disabilities

In its final report, the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) Coordinating Group calls for urgent action by States and the international community to halt the catastrophic failure to protect the lives, health and rights of persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is entitled ‘Disability rights during the pandemic: A global report on findings of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor.’

Save the date: Online Launch of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Global Report

October 22^nd, 15:00 – 17:00 CEST (Geneva time) 9:00 – 11:00 EST (New York time)

Click here to register:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sZVcm4PKSQOgKtltQK3YTg

COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor calls on governments to ensure access to food, medication and essential supplies for persons with disabilities

It is with grave concern that the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls on governments to take immediate emergency measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to food, medication, and other essential supplies. Analysis by the COVID-19 DRM has revealed that government failure to take measures to protect the most basic needs of persons with disabilities has resulted in preventable deaths. Almost one-third of the survey respondents said that people with disabilities in their country lacked access to food or medication at some points during the pandemic.

Statement on behalf of the Coordinating Group of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor at the Opening of the Twenty-Third Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

At the opening of the 23^rd session of the CRPD Committee, on 17 August 2020, Validity’s Co-Executive Director, Steven Allen spoke on behalf of the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Coordinating Group and shared some preliminary findings of the global survey, which was translated into 25 languages and received more than 2,100 responses from 134 countries. Please watch the Statement on UNTV (starting at 1:30:20) and read it here:

COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls for an end to police violence and abuse against persons with disabilities and their family members

The COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Coordinating Group express their alarm about increasing police violence against persons with disabilities in the context of the pandemic, and are calling on governments around the world to take urgent steps to prevent acts of brutality.

COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls for an emergency response to the catastrophic abuse of the human rights of persons with disabilities in institutions 

On 20 April 2020, the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) launched an international survey to monitor state measures concerning persons with disabilities amid the pandemic. The initial analysis of the ongoing global survey has revealed grave and systemic violations of fundamental freedoms and human rights of persons with disabilities detained in large- and small-scale institutions, which have become the epicenter of COVID-19 infections and deaths.