17 February 2005
:: NEWS ::
Amnesty International
Bulgaria: Failings in the provision of care. The fate of the men of Dragash Voyvoda.
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Bulgaria: |
Amnesty International remains concerned that people with mental disabilities, who are placed in social care homes, are not effectively protected from physical and mental abuse and provided with services in line with international human rights standards and best professional practice. The situation of former residents of Dragash Voyvoda illustrates some the organization's outstanding concerns regarding the care and conditions in the majority of institutions for adults with mental disabilities in Bulgaria.
Amnesty International's delegates first visited Dragash Voyvoda in January 2002. They established that in 2001 every fifth resident in this social care home, which held around 140 men, died apparently as a result of poor living conditions, inadequate medical treatment and care. Half of the residents were transferred in September 2002 to five other institutions and the remaining residents were moved to Govezhda in October 2003. Although the material conditions for most of the former residents of Dragash Voyvoda had slightly improved none of the institutions they had been transferred to provided them with appropriate care, including medical care, and the men continue to be exposed to a considerable risk of physical and mental abuse. At least two men died as a result of inadequate safeguards to protect residents of social care homes from abuse.
The placement of former residents of Dragash Voyvoda and their current situation in social care homes illustrates the Bulgarian authorities' failure to appropriately and effectively address the needs of the vast majority of people with mental disabilities. Moreover, the authorities have failed to put in place rules and procedures that would ensure that users of social care services are effectively protected from abuse. For example, there is still no independent mechanism that would promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigate abuse incidents in order to minimize the possibility of any similar abuse occurring in the future.
In September 2004 Amnesty International wrote to Christina Christova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, informing her of the organization's findings and concerns following visits in June 2004 to 12 social care homes. Amnesty International reiterated extensive recommendations discussed with Minister Christova in October 2002. Regrettably, no reply from Minister Christova had been received at the time of publication of this report. Amnesty International continues to work for an effective protection of rights of people with mental disabilities in Bulgaria and to campaign for their full reintegration into society in line with international human rights standards and best professional practice.
This report summarizes a 13-page document (5472 words): Bulgaria Failings in the provision of care: The fate of the men of Dragash Voyvoda (AI Index: EUR 15/002/2005) issued by Amnesty International in February 2005. Anyone wishing further details or to take action on this issue should consult the full document.
An extensive range of our materials on this and other subjects is available at http://www.amnesty.org
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