Human rights Flashcards
What are human rights?
> Rights irrespective of:
- nationality
- gender
- ethnicity
- religion
- language
- disability
> Often expressed and guaranteed by law
What is the influence of international human rights laws on governments?
They give obligations to governments:
- to refrain from certain acts
- to take action promote and protect the rights of individuals and groups
What is the influence of national policies and legislation?
They can act to:
- promote rights of individuals
- or deprive them of their rights
What was the aim of the study on the ‘Human rights violations of people with mental and psychosocial disabilities: an unresolved global crisis’ (Drew et al., 2011)?
To understand the range of human rights abuses faced by people with mental illness
- interview 51 people with mental and psychosocial disabilities in 18 LMICs
- review a wide range of reports and publications
What were the findings of the global study on ‘Human rights violations of people with mental and psychosocial disabilities’ (Drew et al., 2011)?
Human rights violations are near universal experience amongst people with mental illness globally
What are the five key rights violations in people with mental disorders found in the global study on ‘Human rights violations of people with mental and psychosocial disabilities’ (Drew et al., 2011)?
- Restriction of:
- civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights - Difficulty getting work despite being well-qualified
- Lack of disability or social security benefits available
- Denial of right to marry and have children
- Denial of decision to divorce unless made by a guardian
What characterises the human rights violation concerning mental health services in LMICs?
Lack of access to mental health services
- in many LMICs, they are concentrated in urban areas
- > up to 90% of people with severe mental illness in rural areas are unable to access any biomedical care
- when care is available, people can’t afford it
What characterises the human rights violation concerning abuse?
Reports of abuse in residential facilities and places of detention
- overcrowded and unhygienic conditions
- insufficient food
- pervasive tobacco smoke
- outbreaks of preventable communicable diseases
What type of abuse has been reported in psychiatric institutions?
> Physical, emotional and sexual abuse
> Arbitrary detention
> Psychiatric confinement without justification
> Seclusion and restraint
> Unmodified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
What characterises the human rights violation concerning legal capacity?
Restriction on the exercise of legal capacity
- guardian or third person can sometimes make decisions on residence, money, personal affairs, health treatment
(e. g. compulsive treatment) - there are few formal mechanisms for the individual to appeal
Which institutions compose the international human rights system?
- United Nations
- Regional systems
- > address human rights violations experienced by people globally
What are the five key principles to international human rights law?
- Universality
- Inalienable
- Indivisible, interrelated, interdependent
- Non-discrimination
- Rights and obligations
What is the principle of universality in international human rights law?
International human rights apply to everyone irrespective of political, economic, or cultural system
What is the principle of inalienability in international human rights law?
International human rights can’t be taken away
- unless according to due process
What makes international human rights indivisible, interrelated and interdependent?
Improvement of one right facilitates advancements of others
-> deprivation of one right adversely affects the others
What is the principle of non-discrimination in international human rights law?
International human rights are non-discriminating by any category
- including sex or ethnicity
-> cross-cutting principle
What are the obligations in international human rights law?
Obligation on governments to both:
- refrain from acts that infringe rights
AND
- take action to promote and protect these rights
What are the three main legally binding instruments in the UN human rights system?
- International Bill of Rights
- International United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (2006)
- Regional systems
- including African Human Rights system
- and European Human Rights system
What composes the International Bill of Rights?
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
What characterises the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
> Came into force in 2008
> Ratified by 174 countries
> Reflects the social model of disability
> Applicable to all types of disabilities, including psychosocial
> Developed with significant input form those with disabilities
-> Paradigm shift in seeing people with disability as rights-holders
What does “people living with psychosocial disabilities” refer to in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
Refers to people living with mental illness
What is the advantage of using the terms “people living with psychosocial disabilities” in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
Helps frame mental illness in the social model of disability
What are the eight key rights for persons with psychosocial disabilities in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
- Freedom from discrimination
- Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to rehabilitation
- Legal capacity and informed consent
- Right to liberty and security of the person
- Right to freedom from torture of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Right to independent living in the community
- Right to education, employment, social support and housing
- Civil and political rights
What is the aim of the right to ‘freedom from discrimination’ in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?
To enjoy the same rights regardless of disability