Please help us Stop Cage Beds
Join our ‘Stop Cage Beds' campaign by writing to the governments of Slovakia and the Czech Republic urging them to put an immediate stop to the use of cage beds.
For the Czech Republic write to the Ministry of Health at Ministerstvo zdravotnictivi ČR Palackěho náměstí 4, 128 01, Praha 2, Czech Republic and the Ministry of Justice at Ministerstvo spravodivosti SR Župné námestie 13, 813 11 Bratislava, Czech Republic. The most appropriate salutation is: Dear Minister
For Slovakia write to the Ministry of Health at Ministerstvo zdravotníctva SR Limbová 2, 837 52 Bratislava 37, Slovakia. The most appropriate salutation is: Dear Minister
Suggested points to make in your letter
* If you are a citizen or resident of the Czech Republic or Slovakia, explain this
* If you are a supporter of MDAC say this, and also explain that MDAC advances the human rights of children and adults with actual or perceived intellectual or psycho-social (mental health) disabilities
* Explain that you are joining MDAC, its partner and many other organizations and individuals, in their campaign to stop the use of cage beds
* Give reasons why the government should stop the use of cage beds. These could include some or all of the following:
- people with disabilities have for many years been virtually invisible to society and in particular to government
- as a consequence of this invisibility they are subject to routine discrimination and abuse for which few are held accountable
- the continued use of cage beds is considered by you, and the international community to be a cruel, inhuman and degrading form of abuse
- the continued use of cage beds specifically violates numerous international and regional human rights treaties
- to show commitment to the international community and to international law the use of cage beds in all institutions must be immediately banned and any such ban fully implemented
(a) In the Czech Republic the use of cage beds is still legal in mental health institutions. You therefore urge the Minister of Health to impose an immediate ban, and effectively implement the ban, on the use of cage beds.
(b)Research shows that although the use of cage beds is banned in social care institutions they are in fact still used. The Minister of Social Affairs must therefore ensure that all such institutions are regularly monitored, any continued use brought to an immediate end and those accountable for such use held accountable.
* In Slovakia the use of cage beds remains legal in mental health institutions. You therefore urge the Minister of Health to impose an immediate ban, and effectively implement the ban, on the use of cage beds
* Say that you would welcome a reply to your letter with confirmation of what steps are going to be taken to put an immediate end to the use of cage beds
MDAC would be grateful to receive notification, or a copy of any reply you might receive.
Thank you for contributing to the advancement of the human rights of people with intellectual or mental health disabilities.
Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC)
Rákóczi út 27/B, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
tel: +36 1 413 27 30, fax: +36 1 413 27 39
e-mail: mdac@mdac.info, web: www.mdac.info
