Article 14 of the Convention says:
- Governments must make sure that:
- disabled people enjoy the same right to liberty and security as everyone else.
- disabled people are never deprived of their liberty just because they are disabled.
- disabled people are protected from arbitrary detention. If a disabled person is detained or deprived of their liberty they are provided with reasonable adjustments and measures are in place to safeguard their other human rights (for example the right to a fair hearing, the right to be free from degrading treatment).
What does this mean?
The right to liberty means you have a right not to be locked in a cell or a room, or have your movement restricted in any other extreme way. It is not an absolute right. It can be limited in a very few specific circumstances, such as if you are convicted of a crime which carries a prison sentence. Governments can also pass laws about putting people with severe mental health conditions in hospital for treatment as long as certain conditions are satisfied and appropriate safeguards are in place.