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Description
The project contributes to improving the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Decisions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) in the field of rights of persons with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities deprived of their liberty. Main target groups: 5,000 employees of public institutions, especially employees working with vulnerable groups (persons with psychiatric disabilities), 300 magistrates (judges, prosecutors), 50 lawyers, 250 other professionals working with vulnerable groups (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psycho-pedagogues). Within the project, the main activities are: training courses on the implementation of ECHR judgments, recommendations of the Council of Ministers and the Court of Justice of the European Union (UN Court) in the field of prevention of ill-treatment; reporting and investigation of complaints of persons with intellectual or mental disabilities, deprived of their liberty and preparation of complaints to the ECHR, UN Court and the European Commission; piloting a Mechanism for the protection of the rights of persons with institutionalized disabilities; creating a network of specialists in the field of mental health and the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities; training of NGOs and self-representatives of persons with disabilities in reporting to the Committee of Ministers of the CoE and to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; elaboration of the National Action Plan for the prevention of ill-treatment of persons (minors and adults) with disabilities / mental health problems in psychiatric hospitals, residential centers for people with disabilities, arrests and penitentiaries. The project will increase the capacity of professionals from public institutions and civil society to defend the rights of people with disabilities.
Summary of project results
People with disabilities faced less access to justice than those without disabilities when they needed to report an injustice or a violation of their rights. The removal of legislative and technical barriers became a necessary action so that they could have access to appropriate complaint and referral mechanisms before the judicial authorities. The legal framework did not allow the implementation of procedural adaptations inherent in the administration of justice, nor did it ensure access to free or accessible legal assistance and representation. At the same time, workers in the justice system were not trained to understand the needs of people with disabilities, making them a vulnerable category in justice.
At that time, in Romania, there were approximately 17,500 people with disabilities placed in institutions, most of them (56.6%, according to statistics) having an intellectual or psychosocial disability. The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, ratified by Law no. 221/2010, recognized their right to have effective access to justice on an equal basis with others and obliged states to implement measures to train the actors involved in the administration of justice.
The aim of the project was to improve the implementation of ECHR decisions and the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers from the CoE regarding the rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities deprived of their liberty. The project contributed to the development of the capacity of relevant actors to build an accessible justice system and piloted four protection mechanisms. The steps supported the implementation of the obligations plan deriving from the Parascineti Decision, as the task of elaborating and implementing a National Action Plan to prevent abuses and ill-treatment of patients in psychiatric wards had not been fulfilled. Access to justice and the degree of implementation of international provisions were boosted through an advocacy campaign by training mental health specialists and by advising and representing people with disabilities before the competent authorities. Through the national communication and advocacy campaign, the capacity of people with disabilities, both children and adults, to report violations of their rights increased.
The project took essential steps to improve access to justice and to support the implementation of ECHR rulings and CoE recommendations regarding the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Romania.
A specialized training manual was developed, covering the prevention of ill-treatment, the implementation of the Committee of Ministers'' recommendations and ECHR rulings, combating discrimination against persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities deprived of liberty, and the implementation of the complaint mechanism.
To enhance the capacity of professionals, 12 specialists (prosecutors, legal experts, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and experts in human rights/ the rights of persons deprived of liberty/ non-discrimination) were trained to deliver the training courses at a national level. They formed 4 multidisciplinary teams that delivered the training sessions in 18 cities and in Bucharest, involving 494 magistrates, lawyers, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. These sessions aimed to change mindsets and raise awareness among justice and health professionals about the needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, an online platform was developed, allowing professionals to exchange knowledge and receive ongoing support.
An innovative element of the project was the training of 20 professionals and self-representatives with disabilities to identify human rights violations in residential institutions. They participated in monitoring visits, drafting reports with conclusions and subsequently contributing to ad hoc monitoring and litigation.
The protection mechanisms piloted in the project included 20 monitoring visits to institutions by independent experts in law, psychosocial support, medicine, and human rights, to verify compliance with the rights of persons with disabilities. The visits followed by official notifications to public authorities and the filing of three criminal complaints. Also, a call center, an online platform www.cerajutor.ro and an app were created, which allows people with disabilities to report the abuses they fall victim to.
The project had a considerable impact, training more than 500 specialists, including judges, prosecutors and lawyers, to ensure respect for the rights of people with disabilities. A national network of mental health specialists was created and a national debate was organized on the prevention of ill-treatment in hospitals and residential centers, which led to the adoption of the National Action Plan by the Government of Romania in 2024.
Overall, 2,484 people from vulnerable groups benefited from anti-discrimination measures or pilot measures on human rights implemented through the project.
The awareness campaign carried out on social media reached over 300,000 people, sensitizing the public and the authorities about the need to respect the dignity and rights of people with disabilities. The "AdaptJust" project has demonstrated that through training, monitoring and legal action, access to justice and legal protection for the most vulnerable among us can be significantly improved.
The project improved the implementation of ECHR decisions and the Committee of Ministers’ recommendations on the rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities deprived of liberty. It strengthened the capacity of magistrates and civil society to defend these rights, piloted six protection mechanisms, and proposed a National Action Plan to prevent inhumane and degrading treatment in institutions that was adopted by the Government of Romania in 2024. The Plan will enable state institutions to expand the tested protection mechanisms nationwide, ensuring access to justice and safeguarding the rights of institutionalized persons.
The component related to increasing capacity of specialists created a cascading effect, with trained professionals further educating their peers, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The protection mechanisms piloted in the project, including the call center and mobile app to facilitate complaints and ensure rapid intervention, training sessions for professionals working with vulnerable groups, and the network of psychosocial specialists to provide expert support in mental health and disability rights, significantly improved their ability to prevent discrimination and respond effectively to human rights violations, and a.
The project also supported institutional change by organizing training sessions on the implementation of ECHR decisions, ensuring compliance with international legal standards, developing standardized reports on hate speech and human rights violations, providing data to guide policy changes, and publishing a Handbook on Preventing Ill-Treatment, offering practical guidelines for institutions and professionals working with institutionalized persons with disabilities.
From the implementation of this project people with disabilities benefited from improved access to justice and protection mechanisms, judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals received specialized training to ensure fair trials and legal representation, medical and social care professionals gained tools to prevent abuse and improve institutional practices, and civil society organizations were empowered to monitor, report, and advocate for policy change.
Through these measures, the project laid the foundation for systemic change, ensuring that people with disabilities receive fair treatment, protection, and access to justice in line with European and international human rights standards.