European governments promise equal health rights for children with special needs

More than 50 countries in Europe have signed a declaration committing their governments to provide high quality healthcare for children and young people with learning disabilities and to end neglect, abuse, and discrimination.

The 53 countries from the World Health Organization Europe’s region are also committed to transferring care of children and young people with learning disabilities from institutions to the community. Families should be given support to allow parents to care for their children at home, says the declaration, which was signed at a WHO Europe conference on improving the lives of children and young people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Bucharest on 26 and 27 November. The conference believes that health underpins wellbeing and the capacity to enjoy life.

A review by …