Promoting Human Rights Oriented Policy and Law
This is where you will find WHO Guidance and resources on developing and implementing policy and law in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
WHO/OHCHR – Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice
The World Health Organization and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have jointly developed the publication entitled “Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice”. This guidance proposes new objectives for law, including setting a clear mandate for mental health systems to adopt a rights-based approach.
It outlines legal provisions required to promote deinstitutionalization and access to good quality, person-centred community mental health services. It highlights how laws can address stigma and discrimination and provides concrete measures on how to eliminate coercion in mental health services in favour of practices that respect people’s rights and dignity.
The Guidance also provides key information on how to adopt a human rights-based approach when reviewing, adopting, implementing and evaluating mental health related laws, and includes a practical checklist enabling countries to assess whether their laws align with current human rights standards.
Access the guidance HERE
WHO MiNDbank
WHO MiNDbank is an online platform providing quick and easy access to international resources and national/regional level policies, strategies, laws and service standards for mental health, substance abuse, disability, general health, NCDs, human rights and development, and more recently children and youth, and older persons. It is an invaluable tool for policy makers, planners, legislators and parliamentarians advocacy groups, NGOs and DPOs, researchers and academic, education and training centers.
The MiNDbank holds over 4000 documents from over 170 countries with more to come. MiNDbank has been made possible thanks to the collective efforts of WHO Member States in sharing their national resources, with a view to achieving better health and human rights outcomes for all.
Access WHO MiNDbank HERE
WHO Guidance on developing and implementing mental health policies and strategic action plans
Forthcoming…