One in Three Abused Disabled Persons Experience Violence and Exploitation at Their Residence

Ministry of Health and Welfare '2019 National Report on Abuse of Persons with Disabilities'

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Last year, 945 cases nationwide were confirmed as abuse of persons with disabilities, and it was found that 2 out of 10 perpetrators of these abuse cases were workers at residential facilities for persons with disabilities.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Disability Rights Advocacy Agency announced on the 12th that they published the "2019 National Disability Abuse Status Report," which analyzed reports of disability abuse from last year.

According to the report, the number of reported disability abuse cases last year totaled 4,376, an increase of 19.6% compared to the previous year. Among these, 1,923 cases were suspected abuse, and 945 cases were confirmed as actual abuse of persons with disabilities after investigation.

There were 783 non-abuse cases, and 195 potential risk cases (cases suspected of abuse but with unclear harm or insufficient evidence to confirm abuse, where post-monitoring is conducted for prevention due to the possibility of future abuse).

The most common type of disability among victims was developmental disabilities (72.0%), followed by physical disabilities (7.1%), brain lesion disabilities (6.1%), and mental disabilities (5.8%).

Unlike elder and child abuse, where emotional abuse is predominant, disability abuse showed a higher proportion of physical abuse (33.0%) and economic exploitation (26.1%). This was followed by emotional abuse (20.1%), neglect (10.2%), sexual abuse (9.5%), and abandonment (1.2%).

Among economic exploitation cases, labor exploitation such as forcing work without pay or withholding wages accounted for 9.9% of all abuse cases, with intellectual disabilities comprising 69.1% of labor exploitation victims.

The locations where disability abuse occurred were most frequently the victim's residence (32.8%), followed by residential facilities for persons with disabilities (31.2%), perpetrator's residence (8.4%), and workplace (8.0%).

The perpetrators were most often workers at residential facilities for persons with disabilities (21.0%), followed by acquaintances (18.3%).

Analysis by the Ministry of Health and Welfare comparing 2019 to the previous year showed increases in both reported cases and suspected abuse cases. Reports of disability abuse rose from 3,658 in 2018 to 4,376 in 2019, and suspected abuse cases increased from 1,835 to 1,923 during the same period.

To strengthen prevention of disability abuse and protection of victims, the Ministry established a rapid on-site response system. When investigating deaths, injuries, or domestic violence involving persons with disabilities suspected of abuse, the police notify the Disability Rights Advocacy Agency to build a close cooperation system and enhance on-site response capabilities.

Since January, the Disability Abuse Information System has been introduced to enable prompt responses to abuse reports. A community-centered prevention system has been established, and easy-to-read materials including methods to recognize disability abuse and reporting guidelines are produced and distributed to raise awareness among persons with disabilities and the general public.

The Ministry plans to help better understand disability abuse issues through various promotional channels such as online card news and on-site posters. In particular, to prevent human rights violations within residential facilities for persons with disabilities, the Ministry will strengthen connections with the operating "Human Rights Guardians" and the Disability Rights Advocacy Agency, and distribute booklets related to disability abuse to all residential facilities nationwide within this year to encourage reporting by workers.

Meanwhile, through the third supplementary budget passed by the National Assembly on the 3rd, a full survey of residential facilities for persons with disabilities will be conducted to thoroughly inspect abuse within these facilities.

Kim Hyun-jun, Director of the Disability Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "We hope the publication of this disability abuse status report will raise social interest in the human rights of persons with disabilities," and added, "The government will continue to do its best to prevent disability abuse and protect victims."