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Research Type: The Law

Individuals with Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

A number of organizations and institutions in the United States have recognized that people with “invisible disabilities,” such as developmental or mental health disabilities, often face particular barriers when they encounter the criminal justice system. For example, a position statement published by The Arc of the United States says, “People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities… Continue reading Individuals with Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

Cómo se ganó el primer caso guatemalteco de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad

Los derechos de las personas con discapacidad en Guatemala representan una asignatura pendiente, tanto para el Organismo Ejecutivo (encargado de la administración pública) como para el Congreso de la República (desde su función legislativa),  lo anterior dado que la corriente de equiparación en derechos humanos de las personas con discapacidad en su legislación vigente aún… Continue reading Cómo se ganó el primer caso guatemalteco de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad

Guatemala and the CRPD

History of Guatemala and the CRPD Guatemala ratified the CRPD and Optional Protocol in April 2009. Guatemala’s disability law is from 1996 and therefore predates the country’s ratification of the CRPD. As of March 2017, Guatemala is in the process of finalizing a new law on disability which will replace the 1996 Law on the… Continue reading Guatemala and the CRPD

Guatemala’s National Laws Relating to Disability

Guatemala has only one major national law that addresses the rights of people with disabilities. The Law for the Integral Attention to People with Disabilities–Decree No. 135-96–was enacted in 1996. As of February 2017, draft bill 5127 was approved during its third hearing in Guatemalan Congress. Law 5125 is pending final approval of articles.

Peru and the CRPD

Peru and the history of the CRPD Peru was the first Latin American country to ratify the CRPD, which it did in December 2007. Peru was the 15th country to ratify the CRPD and the 9th country to ratify the accompanying Optional Protocol. A DPO coalition in Peru, led by CONFENADIP (the National Confederation on… Continue reading Peru and the CRPD

Marrakesh Treaty

What is the Marrakesh Treaty? People who are blind or have low vision have ready and equal access to less than 10 percent of all published books. The Marrakesh Treaty, an international copyright treaty that is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is meant to change this status quo. The Marrakesh Treaty is… Continue reading Marrakesh Treaty

Economic Support in the U.S.

Federal economic support and benefit laws based on disability vary from monetary social security disability income and Medicare healthcare benefits (both of which require individuals to initially qualify by paying into the system for many years through employment wage deductions), to supplemental security income and Medicaid healthcare benefits that are primarily applied for on the… Continue reading Economic Support in the U.S.

U.S. Housing Laws

There are four key disability nondiscrimination laws that apply to the subject of accessible housing. Two of these laws do not apply only to housing and are covered separately: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to housing that is built with federal financial assistance or federal funds The Americans with Disabilities Act of… Continue reading U.S. Housing Laws