(The Guardian)
June 5, 2012
UNITED NATIONS– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] The UN’s special rapporteur on torture has made a formal approach to the US government over a special-needs school near Boston that inflicts electric shocks on autistic children as a form of behavioural control.
Juan Mendez has told the Guardian that he has opened discussions with the US mission to the UN in Geneva as a first step towards investigating the school.
The rapporteur plans to contact the US state department and has the option of reporting the matter to the UN human rights council.
Mendez said he was “very concerned” about the use of electric shocks, which are inflicted on autistic children through pads applied to their skin.
“The use of electricity on anyone’s body raises the question of whether this is therapeutic or whether it inflicts pain and suffering tantamount to torture in violation of international law,” he added.
Entire article:
UN calls for investigation of US school’s shock treatments of autistic children
http://tinyurl.com/ide0605121a
Related:
The United Nations calls again for investigation of JRC’s shock treatments (Disability Rights International)
http://tinyurl.com/ide0605121b
Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth
http://www.cafety.org
Judge Rotenberg Center — Facility Uses Electric Shock To Change Behavior (Inclusion Daily Express Archives)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/institutions/ma/jrc.htm
Planet of the Blind 