Examining the mistreatment of persons with mental disabilities around the world, Michael Perlin identifies universal factors that contaminate mental disability law, including lack of comprehensive legislation and of independent counsel; inadequate care; poor or nonexistent community programming; and inhumane forensic systems.

Mental disability has come of age as a subject of concern under the European Convention on Human Rights. It was only in 1979 that the first significant decision of the ECHR was decided on the subject, and after that, cases were relatively few for many years. It is only recently that this has begun to change. This volume provides an account of where the law currently stands and speculation as to how it may develop. The initial chapters deal with substantive aspects of Convention rights (including issues of detention in institutions, conditions within institutions, medical treatment, problems associated with guardianship and others). The final two chapters move to discuss the practicalities of litigation. The book concludes with a number of appendices (primarily the primary international legal materials of relevance to mental disability rights under the ECHR, and the relevant recommendations and principles from the Council of Europe). It is hoped that this volume, in addition to shedding light on where the law currently stands, will offer practical guidance to lawyers concerning the mechanics of representing people with mental disabilities.

Inequality: Marcia H. Rioux

This treatise is a detailed article-by-article examination of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Each article of the CRPD contains a methodical analysis of the preparatory works, followed by an exhaustive examination of the contents of each article based on case law and concluding observations from the CRPD Committee, judgments from national and international courts and tribunals, pertinent UN and other reports, the key literature on the article under review. The volume features commentary from a broad range of scholars across a variety of disciplines in order to provide a comprehensive study of the legal, psychological, education, sociological, and other aspects of the CPRD. This encyclopaedic commentary on the CRPD effectively covers all the issues arising from international disability law and practice, and will be an ideal resource for all working in the field.

Mental disorders are ubiquitous, profoundly disabling and people suffering from them frequently endure the worst conditions of life. In recent decades both mental health and human rights have emerged as areas of practice, inquiry, national policy-making and shared international concern. Human-rights monitoring and reporting are core features of public administration in most countries, and human rights law has burgeoned. Mental health also enjoys a new dignity in scholarship, international discussions and programs, mass-media coverage and political debate. Today's experts insist that it impacts on every aspect of health and human well-being, and so becomes essential to achieving human rights. It is remarkable however that the struggle for human rights over the past two centuries largely bypassed the plight of those with mental disabilities. Mental health is frequently absent from routine health and social policy-making and research, and from many global health initiatives, for example, the Millenium Development Goals. Yet the impact of mental disorder is profound, not least when combined with poverty, mass trauma and social disruption, as in many poorer countries. Stigma is widespread and mental disorders frequently go unnoticed and untreated. Even in settings where mental health has attracted attention and services have undergone reform, resources are typically scarce, inequitably distributed, and inefficiently deployed. Social inclusion of those with psychosocial disabilities languishes as a distant ideal. In practice, therefore, the international community still tends to prioritise human rights while largely ignoring mental health, which remains in the shadow of physical-health programs. Yet not only do persons with mental disorders suffer deprivations of human rights but violations of human rights are now recognized as a major cause of mental disorder - a pattern that indicates how inextricably linked are the two domains. This volume offers the first attempt at a comprehensive survey of the key aspects of this interrelationship. It examines the crucial relationships and histories of mental health and human rights, and their interconnections with law, culture, ethnicity, class, economics, neuro-biology, and stigma. It investigates the responsibilities of states in securing the rights of those with mental disabilities, the predicaments of vulnerable groups, and the challenge of promoting and protecting mental health. In this wide-ranging analysis, many themes recur - for example, the enormous mental health burdens caused by war and social conflicts; the need to include mental-health interventions in humanitarian programs in a manner that does not undermine traditional healing and recovery processes of indigenous peoples; and the imperative to reduce gender-based violence and inequities. It particularly focuses on the first-person narratives of mental-health consumers, their families and carers, the collective voices that invite a major shift in vision and praxis. The book will be valuable for mental-health and helping professionals, lawyers, philosophers, human-rights workers and their organisations, the UN and other international agencies, social scientists, representatives of government, teachers, religious professionals, researchers, and policy-makers.

Sixth edition of the hugely successful, internationally recognised textbook on global public health and epidemiology, with 3 volumes comprehensively covering the scope, methods, and practice of the discipline

"Globalization has unleashed new health threats, connecting societies in shared vulnerability to common challenges, including infectious disease, non-communicable disease, environmental pollution, injuries, and inequitable poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the cataclysmic health threats of a rapidly globalizing world and the limitations of domestic law and policy in addressing economic, social, and political determinants of health. No country acting on its own can stem major health hazards that go well beyond national borders. Where national laws cannot reach threats beyond national borders, global law is necessary to promote health and justice. If globalization has presented global challenges to disease prevention and health promotion, global health law offers the promise of bridging national boundaries to promote health and reduce health inequities"--

Based on the testimony of people with psychiatric disabilities (PD). These recommendations emphasize the principle that people with PD have the right to expect that they will be treated according to the principles of law that apply to all other citizens. All laws & policies that restrict the rights of people with PD simply because of their disabilities are inharmonious with basic principles of law & justice, as well as with such civil rights laws as the ADA. Chapters: when helping hurts; creating new lives: independent housing, economic supports, meaningful work; patients' rights: parity, alternatives, inclusion; criminal justice; & a zillion forms & still no civil rights.

Empowering Voices, Challenging Injustice: A Comprehensive Guide to Disability and Human Rights In a world striving for equality, Disability & Human Rights: An Overview offers a critical examination of the intersection between disability and human rights. This compelling work by Dr. Vani Datt Sharma delves into the legal, social, and cultural dimensions of disability, revealing how society's attitudes and policies continue to marginalize millions of people around the globe. With over fifteen years of experience in academia and advocacy, Dr. Sharma expertly navigates the complexities of disability rights, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. From examining international human rights laws to exploring grassroots activism, this book uncovers the systemic barriers that prevent true inclusion and offers actionable insights for creating a more equitable world. Disability & Human Rights: An Overview is not just a book—it’s a call to action. Whether you are a student, policymaker, or advocate, this essential guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to champion the rights of people with disabilities and work towards a society where everyone is valued and respected. Explore. Engage. AdvocateThis book will inspire you to see disability rights not just as a legal issue, but as a fundamental human right that affects us all.