Date/Fecha: April 9, 2026
Time/Hora: 9:00 a.m. Central Mexico, 11:00 a.m. ET, 5:00 PM CET.
An official UN Inquiry found “grave and systemic” abuses against children and adults with disabilities in Mexico, segregated from society and subject to violence and abuse. The UN representatives obtained heinous information visiting institutions – psychiatric facilities, orphanages, children’s group homes and other closed institutions.
Since 2000, Disability Rights International (DRI) has documented human rights violations against persons with disabilities in orphanages, psychiatric hospitals, group homes, shelters, and addiction rehabilitation centers.
DRI's findings are appalling—people tied down in painful positions, overmedication to control their will, physical and sexual abuse, and trafficking are some of the situations faced by persons with disabilities in institutions. In addition, DRI has found that people live in institutions because of their disability, because of poverty, and because the State has not created alternative support in the community.
The UN Report finds that Mexico must take immediate action to meet its obligations under international law to protect people with disabilities.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires that Mexico reform its system of social support and mental health care to end its system of segregated services and ensure that people with disabilities have the support needed to live in the community with choices equal to others. UN human rights authorities call for a moratorium to prevent new admissions to institutions for children or adults with disabilities.
Join an upcoming event hosted by Disability Rights International and supported by the Global Coalition on Deinstitutionalization to analyze and present the Inquiry Report and the recommendations issued by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding Mexico, with the aim of promoting understanding of its findings, reflecting on their implications in the national and international level, and encouraging actions aimed at ensuring compliance with and strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities.