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Mental health policy and practice across Europe: an overview

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A hum<strong>an</strong> rights perspective 309<br />

Nor has it been possible, within the confines of one chapter, to address the<br />

specific issues relating to particular groups of people receiving mental <strong>health</strong><br />

care, such as people with intellectual disabilities, children <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> young people,<br />

older people <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> offenders with mental <strong>health</strong> problems. However, m<strong>an</strong>y of the<br />

general issues that are explored will be relev<strong>an</strong>t to these groups of people.<br />

Box 13.1<br />

United Nations international hum<strong>an</strong> rights: key treaties<br />

• International Coven<strong>an</strong>t on Civil <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966.<br />

• International Coven<strong>an</strong>t on Economic, Social <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Cultural Rights<br />

(ICESCR), 1966.<br />

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination<br />

(CERD), 1965.<br />

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against<br />

Women (CEDAW), 1979.<br />

• Convention Against Torture <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Other Cruel, Inhum<strong>an</strong> or Degrading<br />

Treatment or Punishment (CAT), 1984.<br />

• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989.<br />

For details of which states have ratified these treaties see: www.unhchr.ch/<br />

pdf/report.pdf<br />

Box 13.2<br />

The Council of <strong>Europe</strong> <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> hum<strong>an</strong> rights: key treaties<br />

• The <strong>Europe</strong><strong>an</strong> Convention on Hum<strong>an</strong> Rights (ECHR), 1950: sets out a<br />

r<strong>an</strong>ge of civil <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> political rights. It has been ratified by 45 of the 46<br />

member states.<br />

• <strong>Europe</strong><strong>an</strong> Social Charter 1961 (revised 1996): protects fundamental<br />

social <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> economic rights, including the right to work, the right<br />

to protection of <strong>health</strong> <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> the right to social security. The revised<br />

Charter includes the right to housing. The <strong>Europe</strong><strong>an</strong> Social Charter has<br />

been ratified by 26 states <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> 19 states have ratified the revised Charter.<br />

• <strong>Europe</strong><strong>an</strong> Convention on the Prevention of Torture <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Inhum<strong>an</strong> or<br />

Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1987: establishes the <strong>Europe</strong><strong>an</strong><br />

Committee for the Prevention of Torture <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Inhum<strong>an</strong> or Degrading<br />

Treatment or Punishment (the CPT) which by me<strong>an</strong>s of visits examines<br />

‘the treatment of all categories of persons deprived of their liberty by<br />

a public authority, including persons with mental <strong>health</strong> problems’<br />

(CPT St<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>ards, para. 25). It has been ratified by 45 states.<br />

For further information on Council of <strong>Europe</strong> treaties see: http://<br />

convention.coe.int

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