Article 17 Protecting the integrity of the person

Article 17 says:

  • Every disabled person has the same right as anyone else to respect for their physical and mental integrity.

What does this mean?

This means that disabled people’s minds and bodies are their own. No one should ever treat a disabled person as less of a person or interfere with their minds and bodies. People have the right to be respected by others just as they are.

Sterilising a disabled person against their will or without their knowledge, over-medicating residents in care homes or forcing a disabled person into a marriage could violate this right.

 
 

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