Psychiatric Disability and Human Rights A Global Perspective David Webb (davidwebbo@gmail)

1. Psychiatric Disability and Human Rights A Global Perspective David Webb (davidwebbo@gmail.com) Presented at Perspectives Peer Support and Innovative Practices in Recovery Annual Conference of Australian Mental Health Consumer Network (AMHCN) Melbourne, October 3-4 2006

2. Psychiatric/Psychosocial Disability • a social model of disability • as opposed to medical model of illness • disability defined as functional limitations • something you experience, not something you have • that arises through interaction with environment • environmental factors: physical, social, attitudinal • human rights a core issue • especially self-determination

3. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities • final text of Convention completed in August 2006 • expected to be adopted by UN General Assembly in December – becomes international law • countries then ratify (sign on) to Convention • legally binding undertaking to implement the Convention in domestic law Key ideas: • prohibits any discrimination on the basis of disability (there goes our Mental Health Act) • person’s capacity to refuse treatment to be based on legal not mental capacity

4. UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities • not a convention so not international law • but strong moral obligation for countries who sign on to them, which Australia has • especially relevant for genuine consumer participation in policy development, service delivery, workforce education etc etc • emphasises government obligation to ensure strong representative consumer organisation Current Australian adherence to Standard Rules (esp in psych disability) is very poor

5. Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities • not a Bill of Rights • takes effect Jan 1 2007, full effect Jan 1 2008 • 2007: all Victorian legislation to be reviewed • recognition of international human rights laws • emphasis on civil and political rights (rather than social, economic and cultural rights) • such as those denied us under Mental Health Act Victorian government should include UN Convention in its human rights review of all disability legislation

6. Some International Consumer/Survivor Organisations with Human Rights Focus World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry www.wnusp.org MindFreedom Support Coalition International www.mindfreedom.org National Empowerment Centre: www.power2u.org peoplewho: www.peoplewho.org Lunatics Liberation Front: www.walnet.org/llf Also … insane australia … where Batty is beautiful … www.battyisbeautiful.com

7. World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry 1991 –World Federation of Psychiatric Users (WFPU) 1997 – renamed to WNUSP 2001 – 1st General Assembly (Vancouver) 2004 – 2nd General Assembly (Denmark) • joint congress with European network (www.enusp.org) • 200+ delegates from 50+ countries 2005/6 – formation of Pan-African PANUSP 2008 – 3rd General Assembly (Africa/India?) Four regions, two elected Board members from each: Europe, Americas, Africa and Middle-East, and Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific: Chris Hansen (NZ), Mari Yamamoto (Japan) [Deputies: Bhargavi Davar (India), David Webb (Australia)]

8. World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry Major projects/activities: UN Convention • WNUSP is UN accredited NGO at the Convention negotiations • delegation led by Tina Minkowitz, a US psych survivor, human rights lawyer, and one of three Co-Chairs of WNUSP • Tina has played a leading role in shaping Convention World Health Organisation (WHO) • WNUSP representative/advisor to WHO Disability and Rehabilitation (DAR) project to produce a World Report on Disability and Rehabilitation by 2009 • a ‘tense’ relationship with Mental Health division of WHO International Disability Alliance (IDA) … etc etc

9. Contacts WNUSP:www.wnusp.org MindFreedom: www.mindfreedom.org N.E.C: www.power2u.org peoplewho: www.peoplewho.org LLF: www.walnet.org/llf membership@wnusp.org davidwebbo@gmail.com