Page 8 - AT

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 2 November 2019
Some autistic youths detained in UK in "horrific" conditions

By MARIA CHENG tional Autistic Society, there
Associated Press has been a 24% rise in
LONDON (AP) — A British people with autism being
Parliamentary committee admitted to mental health
says some young people hospitals since 2015.
with autism or learning dis- Dr. Andrew Molodynski, the
abilities are being detained mental health policy expert
under "horrific" conditions for the British Medical Asso-
and has called for an ur- ciation , called the treat-
gent overhaul of the medi- ment documented by the
cal system overseeing their panel "barbaric and cruel."
treatments. "There are dark corners of
In a report issued Friday, the health service that are
the Joint Committee on breeding harsh and abu-
Human Rights said it heard sive cultures," he said.
"grim" evidence about how Molodynski called for ur-
young people with disabili- gent changes, including
ties or autism were being proper training for all staff
held, calling those deten- working in psychiatric fa-
tions "often inappropriate." cilities and for authorities to
The panel said it has "lost make sure that patients are
confidence that the sys- In this file photo dated Monday, May 18, 2015, British main opposition Labour Party lawmaker treated close to home.
tem is doing what it says it Harriet Harman speaks during a press conference at their party headquarters in London. Ian Trenholm, chief execu-
is doing" and said the men- Associated Press tive of the Care Quality
tal health regulator's ap- disabilities. "He had his arm places it should not go." He an said. Commission , which over-
proach "is not working." broken in a restraint," the said he was often thrown Harman and her col- sees health and social ser-
"This inquiry has shown with mother, Julie Newcombe, into his "cell" and was re- leagues called for crite- vices in England, defended
stark clarity the urgent told the committee. "His quired to notify staff when ria within Britain's Mental his agency's actions, saying
change that is needed," arm was wrenched up be- he needed to use the bath- Health Act to be narrowed many of the recommenda-
committee chair Harriet hind his back until the bone room. to avoid inappropriate cas- tions made by the commit-
Harman said. snapped." Another mother said her es of detention. tee were already in place.
"What we saw does not fit She added that her son son, who has serious anxi- They also recommended But he acknowledged
our society's image of itself was not taken for emer- ety problems, was kept in a unit with a leader in the more needed to be done.
as one which cares for the gency treatment until 24 isolation for up to nine hours prime minister's Cabinet to "We know we need to im-
vulnerable and respects hours later. at a time. drive the medical practice prove how we regulate
everyone's human rights." Another young man with "He started to bang his reforms and safeguard the mental health, learning dis-
The panel described one learning disabilities, identi- head against the wall and human rights of young peo- ability and autism services
particularly distressing epi- fied only as Witness A, said would bite the wood in the ple with autism or learning so we can get better at
sode from the mother of a staff frequently restrained door frame out of despera- disabilities. spotting poor care," he said
young man with learning him by twisting his hand "in tion," the unidentified wom- According to Britain's Na- in a statement.q

UN confirms Madrid as new location for climate summit

meeting, as well as a sum- who were planning to at- "If anyone could help me
mit of Asia-Pacific leaders, tend the conference in find transport I would be so
to focus on restoring secu- Chile was Swedish activist grateful." Thunberg voiced
rity in his country following Greta Thunberg, whose cli- regret about not being
weeks of protests in which mate protests have helped able to visit Central and
at least a dozen people inspire tens of thousands South America as planned,
have died. of mostly young people saying she had been look-
Spanish Prime Minister Pe- to take to the streets de- ing forward to doing so.
dro Sánchez's office of- manding greater efforts "But this is of course not
fered to step in at short from world leaders. about me, my experiences
notice Thursday, sending The teenager made a high- or where I wish to travel.
delegates from around profile crossing from Eng- We're in a climate and eco-
the world scrambling to land to New York by sail- logical emergency," she
change their travel plans. boat earlier this year and said. It wasn't immediately
A backhoe drives at the site that was going to be the venue for Sánchez, who is facing a planned to travel overland clear on what scale the
the COP25 UN climate summit at the Cerrillos Bicentennial Park national election on Nov. to Santiago to speak at the conference will be held in
in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. 10, celebrated Friday's meeting. Thunberg refuses Madrid. Last year's climate
Associated Press decision. "Excellent news: to fly because of aviation's conference in Katowice,
By FRANK JORDANS Espinosa said representa- Madrid will host the global big carbon footprint. Poland, was attended by
Associated Press tives of the body that or- climate meeting from Dec. After the move to Ma- more than 20,000 people.
BERLIN (AP) — The United ganizes the annual con- 2-13. Spain is already at drid was confirmed Friday, The 25th Conference of the
Nations global climate ference had accepted work to guarantee its stag- Thunberg appealed for Parties, or COP25, is meant
meeting next month will Spain's offer to host it in the ing of COP25. Our govern- help. "It turns out I've trav- to work out some of the re-
take place in Madrid after country's capital Dec. 2-13. ment firmly keeps its com- eled half around the world, maining unresolved issue
previous host Chile can- Chilean President Sebas- mitment to lasting prog- the wrong way," she tweet- on the rules that countries
celed at short notice, offi- tián Piñera had announced ress and a just ecological ed. "Now I need to find a have to follow in their ef-
cials said Friday. Wednesday that he was transition," Sánchez wrote way to cross the Atlantic in forts to reduce greenhouse
U.N. climate chief Patricia cancelling plans to host the on Twitter. Among those November...," she added. gas emissions.q