A number of independent experts from several United Nations mechanisms*, referring to the first session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that convened in Geneva from 23 to 27 February 2009, recalled today that persons with disabilities continue to run an increased risk of falling victim to abuse and neglect in a number of contexts: many are involuntarily confined for long periods, at times without legal basis and proper review mechanisms and in inadequate conditions; inside institutions they are often subjected to restraint, sometimes severe forms of restraint, physical, mental and sexual violence, and seclusion; moreover, persons with disabilities are especially vulnerable to violence and abuse, including sexual abuse, inside the home, at the hands of family members, caregivers, health professionals and members of the community. Finally, they risk being exposed to medical experimentation and intrusive and irreversible medical treatments without their consent.