A new tool to assess compliance of mental health laws with the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

Abstract

Since the introduction of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) (CRPD), there have been calls to establish standards to measure compliance of domestic mental health laws with the human rights outlined in the CRPD. This article aims to address this gap by proposing a tool: the Analysis Instrument for Mental health (AIM). In particular, the tool's purpose is to enable states and civil society to assess the compliance of non-forensic domestic mental health laws with Article 12 of the CRPD. It responds to Dawson's (2015) call for a mechanism designed to provide clear and measurable standards for which to undertake this exercise. The content of AIM draws directly from the authoritative interpretation of Article 12 provided by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Committee) in its General Comment, as well as the substantial body of academic and other literature about Article 12.

Legal and policy provisions for reasonable accommodation in employment of persons with mental disability in East Africa: A review

“…Enforcement of available laws and policies is pivotal to achievement of immediate obligations related to other basic needs, like health, education and shelter, that persons with mental disabilities require to function in employment (Byrne et al, 2018;Mental Health Europe, 2016). Reasonable accommodations in education and health are absolutely essential for employment of persons with mental disabilities (World Health Organisation, 2018).…”

“…The reasons are complex. Mental illness has a long history of association with prejudice, stigma and neglect (Byrne, White, & McDonald, 2018;Krupa, Kirsh, Cockburn, & Gewurtz, 2009;Parry, 2013). Key barriers to gainful employment of persons with mental disabilities include stigma attached to mental health conditions, indirect and direct discrimination, segregation and exclusion (Marks, Cowan, & McLean, 2017); systemic challenges to inclusion in education (Wylonis, Wylonis, & Sadoff, 2017); the impact of social stigma on the self-esteem of individuals with mental disabilities, and restrictive national laws based on the medical model of disability (Waltz, 2017).…”

Link and Match Program between Course and Training Agency with Industry to Increase Working Opportunities for People with Disabilities

“…As for the private sector, the obligation is to employ people with disabilities at least 1 percent of the total workers. The implementation of existing laws and policies is critical for people with disabilities to meet immediate basic needs, like health and education to function in employment (Byrne et al, 2018).…”