Better health, better lives: children and young people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The case for change (2010)

This is a background paper for the conference held in Bucharest, Romania, 26-27 November 2010. This report briefly reviews the current situation of children with intellectual disabilities and their families in the WHO European Region, with particular regard to their enjoyment of their right to health.

Health is closely related to well-being and several near synonyms whose basic meaning is the capacity to enjoy life. It is a resource for life and for living. The right to health is therefore closely linked to the other rights of children.