Psychosocial disability, mental health and prison in Chile. Approaches towards a sensitization with a human rights perspective

Abstract

Prison constitutes an emergency state on human rights matters to which people with psychosocial disability and mental health problems are selectively exposed. Barriers they face as forms of discrimination and, in particular, the prejudice of dangerousness constructed around them from a socio-legal perspective lead to their imprisonment and invisibility in prison facilities, remaining exposed to violence, inattention in health and progressive deterioration of their condition. The universal system of protection of human rights has produced guidelines for the safeguard of this special group of state protection in the penitentiary system, in order to sensitize this space to their specific needs, and ensure reasonable adjustments and supports for the exercise of rights in equality of conditions with other people during the fulfillment of their sentences.