Description:

Violence against people with disabilities remains a widespread yet often hidden reality, particularly in institutional care settings. Recent evidence shows that abuse can stem not only from individual misconduct, but also from structural factors embedded within institutional models of care, including segregation, lack of autonomy and unequal power relations.

This report explores how disability support services can help prevent and respond to violence through a human-rights-based approach and the transition towards community-based support. Drawing on recent work by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), it examines the root causes of violence and the measures needed to promote autonomy, participation and inclusion.

The publication presents practical recommendations and examples of promising practices from across Europe, alongside tools developed through the OHCHR EQUIP project to support rights-based service provision. As a follow-up to EASPD’s Knowledge Café on preventing violence in disability support services, it aims to support the transformation of care systems into services that uphold dignity, empowerment and full participation in society.

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Citation:

EASPD (2026). Transforming disability services to prevent and respond to violence.

Author:

Garbiñe Uriarte, Knowledge and Innovation Assistant

Editor:

Irene Bertana, EASPD Interim Head of Policy

Date:

Brussels, June 2026.