In the Child Care Centre Lechaina, Greece, the situation is unbearable and violates basic human rights!

BBC News coverage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30038753

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5KPcv0O7mg

The main issues at the centre include

- the cages and cells in which some residents are kept for 24 hours a day,

- the handcuffs and belts used to restrain these young people and tie them to their beds for 24 hours a day,

- the large quantities of sedatives which are prescribed without any medical justification

- the acute lack of nurses, specialised staff and medical support,

- and therefore the very serious lack of specialised or even general stimulation for the residents.

As a result we are concerned about the lack of quality of life these children and young people receive.

Please help to put pressure on the Greek government to get this changed!

About the Child Care Center Lechaina

In 2011 the Greek Ombudsman published a report on the violation of human rights in the institution and the changes that need to be made. The call for changes was supported by Human Rights Watch and the European Disability Forum (2011) and by the UN Committee for the Rights of the Child in 2012. Despite numerous promises no real meaningful action has been taken.

Human Rights Watch 2014-11-18: https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/11/18/dispatches-greece-no-excuse-caging-children

About us

We are a group of international volunteers that spent a long period volunteering in the centre, and have been campaigning for 5 years on this issue. We are not looking to blame the staff for the situation who we understand are struggeling under very difficult conditions. We believe in the importance of the human factor. Anyone inside the institution that may try to bring positive change, even small change, should not be reproached.

Read more about our aims in our position paper.

Visit us online: http://kepepchildren.blogspot.com

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