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5th December, 2010 Dear Friend, Greetings from NAAJMI! NAAJMI (National Alliance on Access to Justice for Persons Living with Mental Illness) is a national coalition of individuals and organizations working on disability rights. NAAJMI has, since 2005, built a concrete platform for dialogue on the Human Rights of people with disabilities, particularly those living with a mental illness [PLMI]. NAAJMI, in partnership with Action Aid, has organized a South regional consultation on 17th -18th of December 2010, in Bangalore, on the *UNCRPD, the New Disability Draft legislation, and issues of PLMI. *This consultation will focus on the New Disability Draft Legislation, the Mental Health Act and its amendment, against the background of the Rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD). The issues and concerns of PLMI are neglected in policies and laws. [MOSJE] has published the new disability legislation (first Draft) and it is necessary to understand it and send our demands and suggestions. The consultation will focus on mental health act, the amendment draft released by MOHFW and related policy and legal issues. A concept note about the consultation is attached along with. We are inviting you for the consultation. Your experiences with rights of people with disabilities will be very valuable to NAAJMI / MH sector and your participation deeply appreciated. We await your confirmation of participation for the consultation. A detailed programme sheet will be sent soon. We are able to pay for your travel, local accommodation and hospitality. The venue for the consultation: United Theological College No.63 Millers Road Benson Town Bangalore-, 560046 Tel: 080- 2333 9269 Time: 10.a.m.-6 p.m. The facility is accessible. If you have any special needs, do let us know. Warm regards, D.M. NAIDU, Chairperson, NAAJMI. Please confirm your participation with: Lavanya Seshasayee at [email protected] [07676944082] Firdaus at [email protected] Or directly with Mr. Naidu at 0984521870 CONCEPT NOTE *UNCRPD, the new Disability legislation (Draft),* *And the Rights for persons living with mental illness.* NAAJMI, headquartered in New Delhi, has organized a 2 day consultation on the UNCRPD, the new Disability Act (Draft), Rights for persons living with mental illness, in Bangalore, on the 17th and 18th of December. About NAAJMI: NAAJMI’s Vision is to assure “A Life of Dignity for Every Person Living with Mental Illness”. In order to accomplish its vision, NAAJMI has a four-point Mission: (i) Influence policy and public opinion (ii) Capture and apply knowledge (iii) Provide a platform for dialogue among all stakeholders in the mental health sector – specially for the voices that have not been heard so far (iv) Learn from other movements and network with them NAAJMI has now become a strong collective voice around the country demanding justice and access to justice for persons living with mental illness based on the values of dignity, respect and autonomy. It is an alliance of, by and for people living with mental illness, and is inclusive of a diverse community of people with a personal and / or professional engagement with disability and persons living with mental illness. Its main activity is to build opinion through mobilizing activities, on policy and law relating to disabilities and PLMI. The need for the consultation arose from the present situation about disability and particularly about people living with a psychosocial disability / mental illness [PLMI]. Mental illness is a serious issue in both rural and urban areas. It is neglected by individuals themselves, by families, society, and policy makers. It is either covered up or persons living with mental illness [PLMI] are perceived as incapable and dangerous. PLMI are not only neglected but deprived of many Civil, Economic, social and political rights. They are excluded from the community, family, political and cultural life. They experience what may be called a “CIVIL DEATH”. The laws in India are not friendly laws for persons with mental illness. The Mental Health Act has added layers of discrimination on the PLMI, increasing their exclusion. NAAJMI, FROM 2005, has been challenging this dehumanizing perspective by society and policy makers in many ways. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) provides a right based protection to all persons with disabilities, including PLMI. India signed the UN Convention on 30th March, 2007, the day it was opened for signatures. On 01 October 2007 the Government of India ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in doing so, made a commitment to the peoples of India and to the international community to fulfill certain specified obligations, and to raise standards relating to the protection, inclusion and empowerment of disabled people in India. There are eight guiding principles that underlie the Convention and each one of its specific articles: • Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons • Non-discrimination • Full and effective participation and inclusion in society • Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity • Equality of opportunity • Accessibility • Equality between men and women • Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities. Issue of mental health is not included in any policy or law in the country with these guiding principles of UNCRPD. The existing Mental health Act, and the present draft of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on its amendment, are anti-UNCRPD in every sense. NAAJMI advocates that the MHA should be repealed. Mental health sector has been the least of the priorities for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National Policy for Persons with Disabilities was announced in February, 2006. The salient features of the National Policy are: Physical Rehabilitation, which includes early detection and intervention, counselling & medical interventions and provision of aids & appliances. It also includes the development of rehabilitation professionals. Educational Rehabilitation including vocational training and Economic Rehabilitation for a dignified life in society. The policy specifically focuses on issues concerning women and children with disabilities. The National Policy recognizes that Persons with Disabilities are valuable human resource for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides them with equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society. The focus of the policy is on (a) Prevention of Disabilities and (b) Rehabilitation Measures. Various Ministries/Departments in Central Government and the State Governments and UT Administrations are implementing the policy, which is a continuous process. National policy also totally neglected PLMI. It is a full proof of lack of awareness and total discriminative perspective about persons with mental illness. There is no special policy on mental health. New disability Law (Draft) [“Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act”] is a comprehensive law for all persons with all types of disabilities. This is an enormous opportunity for the inclusion of PLMI in a meaningful way. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has circulated the first draft of the legislation for discussion. The Draft New Law must be fully discussed among the persons, organizations of persons with disability, and persons and organizations who have concern for mental health. NAAJMI sees this as an important opportunity to get a comprehensive law with a rights based perspective, and the inclusion of rights of people with mental illness. NAAJMI is proposing to hold regional consultations in December, followed by a National consultation in New Delhi, in the month of January. Following this, NAAJMI has plans for lobbying with MOHFW & MOSJE on the plight of PLMI and our specific needs from these Ministries. We are joined in our efforts by various supporters within the disability movement, such as CBR forum, DRG, MHRG, HRLN, and look forward to building cross disability alliance in Maharashtra. These regional consultations will focus on the provisions of human rights in UNCRPD. It will also be helpful to understand right based framework of the new Disability Draft Legislation [RPDA]. Understanding and knowledge about UNCRPD / RPDA will help shape up the discourse on Mental health Act and NAAJMI’s vision for MH legislation. The purpose of the Consultations therefore is to focus on the issue of Mental Health, existing laws and bills about mental health and the urgent need for right based perspective towards mental health and legal instruments to protect the rights of persons with mental illness. Many organizations of disabled persons, human rights defenders, legal activists, representatives from Disability Commissioners’ office, people working in the field of disability from Maharashtra are invited for the consultation. Discussions, dialogue, interactions in the consultation will help to bring disable friendly new disability act, to form a network for the act and protection of the rights of all disabled peoples in Maharashtra. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
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