IMPLEMENTATION UNDER NATIONAL LAW as they are now, determinations on which option is the least damaging to detainees are difficult to render, and decisions might best be made on an individual and case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the person concerned and the available options in a particular country or region. In many places of detention in the six partner countries, material detention conditions and overcrowding of facilities, as well as a lack of specialised staff (medical staff, psychologists, psychiatrists) negatively impact the availability and quality of treatment. In addition, the research has found practices with regard to isolation, restraint measures, overuse of medication and non-consensual treatment are not compliant with international standards. The following recommendations apply to all facilities where persons with intellectual and/ or psychosocials disabilities are deprived of liberty, including prisons, (forensic) psychiatric hospitals and other institutions for compulsory treatment. Conditions of detention for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities • Ensure that conditions of detention are adapted to the specific needs of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and, generally, are in line with international human rights standards, in particular with the UNCRPD. • Take measures to decongest overcrowded facilities, where possible, through the application of non-custodial measures and outpatient treatment, which are tailored to the specific needs of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. • Ensure that adequate support and accommodations (physical, informational, attitudinal, medical, and other) are available and accessible in all facilities where persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities are detained. • Facilitate cooperation with CSOs and other extramural services to ensure that detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial 72 disabilities have access to social and legal support, treatment and care. • Abolish the use of solitary confinement, seclusion, isolation, which may amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Isolation should never be used as a punishment and must be limited to the shortest period possible. • Limit the application of restraint measures, in line with international human rights standards, and, when unavoidable, ensure adequate documentation of any use of restraining measures. • Ensure the availability and accessibility of suitable purposeful activities for detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities with a view to facilitating social reintegration. • Ensure the availability of privileges and relaxations of the regime to provide opportunities in order to prepare persons for their release with a view to facilitating social reintegration. • Ensure adequate numbers of specialised staff (medical staff, psychologists, psychiatrists) in all facilities that detain persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, as well as mandatory training for prison staff and other institutional staff interacting with persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities deprived of liberty. • Ensure cooperation with international and national monitoring bodies to facilitate oversight and work towards a harmonisation of standards for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. • Provide detainees with intellectual and/ or psychosocial disabilities with the opportunity to share their experiences (e.g., by developing a “living library”, where they can report and write about personal experiences during their deprivation of liberty, if they are able to).

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