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This report has been prepared on behalf of the Regional Office for Europe of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It highlights one of the most significant human rights challenges in Europe today, namely that many children, persons with disabilities and older persons continue to be placed in long-stay residential institutional care in countries across Europe, often for life. This report is the first of a series of OHCHR publications intended to inform and encourage debate on the issues affecting children, persons with disabilities and older persons in institutions and how the areas of concern should be addressed. Its overriding purpose is to draw attention to two issues: first, the situation of children, persons with disabilities and older persons living in institutions and second, the responsibility of Governments to develop community-based alternatives to institutional care. Both are of crucial importance. While Governments need to develop and implement strategies for the shift from institutional care to community-based services, they must also protect the rights of individuals who remain in institutional care during this transition process. Accordingly, this report identifies and compares a range of United Nations and Council of Europe human rights standards that are of particular relevance to children, persons with disabilities and older people who are currently, or are at risk of being, institutionalized. Given the broad scope of the study, this report does not purport to cover each and every human rights standard that may be of relevance. Nor does it claim to provide a definitive interpretative guide on how different standards impact upon each other. Rather, the report seeks to identify the main issues currently covered by the relevant standards and to highlight any areas that merit further consideration and discussion. Further Information: