Tuesday, 6 February 2018
Available in
Australia: Prisoners with Disabilities Neglected, Abused
(Sydney, February 7, 2018) – People with disabilities in prisons across Australia are at serious risk of sexual and physical violence, and are disproportionately held in solitary confinement for 22 hours a day, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 93-page report, “I Needed Help, Instead I Was Punished: Abuse and Neglect of Prisoners with Disabilities in Australia,” examines how prisoners with disabilities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, are at serious risk of bullying, harassment, violence, and abuse from fellow prisoners and staff. Prisoners with psychosocial disabilities – mental health conditions – or cognitive disabilities in particular can spend days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years locked up alone in detention or safety units. State and federal governments should end the use of solitary confinement for prisoners with disabilities, ensure that appropriate services are available to meet their needs, and more effectively screen prisoners for disabilities as they enter prison.
Videos (2)
Feature
3m 15s
Social
1m 40s
Related News
ENG
KO
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
South Korea: Systemic Gender, Age Discrimination at Work
Widen Opportunities, Close Pay and Pension Gaps for Women
ENG
Friday, 12 June 2026
Malawi: People with Albinism Face Discrimination, Barriers to Work
Stigma, Insecurity, Lack of Accommodations Undermine Rights
ENG
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Philippines: Planned Climate Relocations Threaten Rights