IMPACT: Strengthening the impact of national monitoring mechanisms in enhancing the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities
About the Project
The project focuses on enhancing the impact of national monitoring mechanisms in strengthening the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, and, thereby, contributes to preventing ill-treatment.
Research topic and Roadmap
Research and practice show that detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities face significant issues across all EU Member States. They are over-represented in detention, and the neglect of their specific needs can lead to violations of fundamental rights, including inhuman or degrading treatment, or even torture.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) National Prevention Mechanisms (NPMs) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Independent Monitoring Mechanisms (IMMs) can play a vital role in protecting the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities.
The project “IMPACT: Strengthening the impact of national monitoring mechanisms in enhancing the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities“ will assess how NPMs and IMMs monitor the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and aims to reinforce their awareness and capacity to act as agents of change.
Research Focus
The overall objective is to strengthen the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. More specifically, through a series of workshops and the development of a practical monitoring Guidebook, the project aims to:
- Raise awareness on relevant international standards
- Strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of NPMs and IMMs in the monitoring of the specific situation of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities
- Identify challenges and promising practices faced by NPMs and IMMs in the monitoring of the situation of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities
- Facilitate and strengthen exchange and mutual learning among different stakeholders (especially EU NPMs and IMMs) from across the EU
- Ensure the meaningful participation of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities throughout the project activities
Research Method
The research will include desk research and numerous consultations with representatives of NPMs, IMMs, and other relevant actors, through a series of three online workshops, one in person EU-wide consultation workshop as well as interviews.
Striving to implement the principles of the CRPD, the project will foster the meaningful participation of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities in the main project activities.
Building on past project findings, the principles of systemic thinking in preventive human rights monitoring will be used to design the project methodology and the key project outputs.
Project Data
- Project Title: IMPACT: Strengthening the impact of national monitoring mechanisms in enhancing the rights of detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities
- Project Consortium: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (lead), VALIDITY
- Project Team LBI-GMR: Annika Sara Fuchs (Coordination), Giuliana Monina
- Project Duration: March 2025 to February 2027
- Funding Bodies: Justice Programme of the European Union
- Programme Line LBI-GMR: Human Dignity and Public Security
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
