United Nations

Millions of people around the world are often deprived of their rights, because of people who do not understand their disabilities. We, together with Fine Acts, are proud to have worked on this project and to have partnered up with the UN Special Rapporteur Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Catalina Devandas. Together, we created "Captive and Invisible", an extraordinary series of illustrated stories.

Although their names are fictitious, these characters represent the stories of real women, children and men with disabilities, who have faced abuse, violence and neglect in different parts of the world. Their lives and freedom depend on government action. They are in desperate need of somebody to enforce and protect their fundamental rights.

Link: https://embracingdiversitynet.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1TOE-ZIdwB0zxNVPiSgQaA-DyHOmJfvUZuSPhaO68rvNHDnK4JSj-qMq8

Amil is autistic, and he lives in a rural village with his family. They have no help, and there are no services in the community, so he spends all his days and nights locked up in a room. When there is no government support, home can become a prison.

Espe was born with Down syndrome, and her parents rarely allowed her to leave the house. Now an adult, Espe lives in an institution for adults with intellectual disabilities. She spends her days and nights in a room, only allowed to go out into a fenced, concrete yard.

Ireti is black and deaf, and he’s an immigrant. He was wrongly accused of stealing his own ipad. Being unable to communicate verbally and without access to a sign language interpreter, he spent six weeks in jail.

Themba lies on a dirty floor, his foot shackled and chained to the wall. He is in a “prayer camp”, where persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are chained and caged until the leader decides that their spirits are healed.

Themba lies on a dirty floor, his foot shackled and chained to the wall. He is in a “prayer camp”, where persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are chained and caged until the leader decides that their spirits are healed.

Espe was born with Down syndrome, and her parents rarely allowed her to leave the house. Now an adult, Espe lives in an institution for adults with intellectual disabilities. She spends her days and nights in a room, only allowed to go out into a fenced, concrete yard.

When Ashia found out that she was pregnant, she stopped taking her psychiatric medication to prevent harming the baby. But after giving birth, her child was placed in foster care, and Ashia was locked up in a psychiatric ward. Instead of providing the support she needed, the State took away Ashia’s child, and her liberty. Here’s Ashia in her room.

Amil is autistic, and he lives in a rural village with his family. They have no help, and there are no services in the community, so he spends all his days and nights locked up in a room. When there is no government support, home can become a prison.

Umit, a person with psychosocial disabilities, was jailed for drug possession. Because of his diagnosis of schizophrenia, he spent most of his time in solitary  confinement. The guards thought that he was disrespectful, and wanted to “teach him a lesson”. They took him to the showers, and hosed him down with water hot enough to brew tea. Umit died, his skin falling off at the touch.