The open access, peer reviewed online journal 'Research & Humanities in Medical Education' (RHiME) published my review article on people with disabilities and India's HIV response. Here's the abstract:
India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world. The UNAIDS Gap report
has identified twelve risk groups that are especially vulnerable and
have been left behind from the national AIDS response. Of these twelve,
one is persons with disabilities. Disability is both a public health
issue and a human rights issue; persons with disabilities are the
world’s largest minority. Low awareness, sexual abuse, and lack of
access to health services are the major reasons for people with
disabilities being vulnerable. While the gap report is a landmark
report, in that it compartmentalizes the risk groups, disability cannot
be looked at in isolation. Since any of the other risk groups may
include persons with disabilities, the issue is a complex one meriting
greater attention. The National AIDS Control Organization has completely
ignored this group of persons. To efficiently close the gap, an
integrated and disability-inclusive HIV response is needed so that
people with different types of disabilities, their caretakers,
healthcare professionals and society are empowered to fight the
collective battle against HIV/AIDS.
Full article can be read at the following link:
Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].
Showing posts with label Psychosocial Disabilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psychosocial Disabilities. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Raw Deal for Physically Challanged Voters
The Supreme Court order of 2007 to Chief Election Commissioner was the result of a letter written to the Chief Justice of India by Mr Javed Abidi, convener of the Disabled Rights Group (DRG) before the 2004 election, demanding that necessary steps be taken to make the polling process accessible to the disabled. The letter was converted into public interest litigation (PIL). Apart from ramps in polling booths and Braille-enabled EVMs, the Supreme Court judgment also says that poll personnel must be sensitised to the special needs of the disabled (hearing impaired) and be courteous to them.
This was publicized as the most high-tech polls ever but for disabled voters, it was like ostracizing in their own country. Live webcast notwithstanding, architectural, attitudinal and technological barriers confronted voters with disabilities while exercising their right to vote: no Braille signs or ramps, an absence of Sign Language interpreters, no automatic door openers, narrow doorways and inaccessible voting machines.
On what basis does the capital of world’s largest democracy legally deprive an estimated 80,000 voters with disability of this fundamental civic right? I complained it to the election commission as well as Chief and State Commissioner’s of Persons with Disability.
Today’s Statesman has also covered the story on page 2. Sharing it here:
RAW DEAL FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED VOTERS
By Chandan Prakash Singh (singh.chandan@thestatesman.net)
New Delhi, 4 December 2013, The Staesman (Delhi Edition, page 2)
The lack of ramps and Braille signs at several polling booths, led physically challenged voters, including first timers,having a tough time in exercising their franchise for the Delhi Assembly election today.
According to Dr Satendra Singh, professor at the University College of medical Sciences (UCMS) and GTB Hospital, despite clear guidelines from the Supreme Court, disabled voters were not informed about accessible polling booths either on radio or newspapers.
“The polling booth at a training centre outside GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden, had no ramp or Braille signage facility as several of my students, including the first timers, faced lots of trouble while casting their votes. This was just one example of such mismanagement noticed while polling as there were numerous booths.” said Dr Singh.
Ms Abha Khetarpal, wheelchair user and the president of 'Cross the Hurdles' organization, said:
"Polling booth number A 28 at Subhash Nagar, where I was supposed to cast my vote, had no ramps for wheelchairs and no Braille stickers.” She said polling booths number 11, 12, 13, 14 in Rajokri had no ramps and Braille stickers. Besides, polling booth number 13 in Rajokri had seven stairs which was inaccessible for physically disabled people.
"Polling booth number A 28 at Subhash Nagar, where I was supposed to cast my vote, had no ramps for wheelchairs and no Braille stickers.” She said polling booths number 11, 12, 13, 14 in Rajokri had no ramps and Braille stickers. Besides, polling booth number 13 in Rajokri had seven stairs which was inaccessible for physically disabled people.
“How can it be called government for the people, by the people and for the people. If we report this to media they ask for proof of this with pictures which is not allowed. Said Ms Khetarpal.
Shivani Gupta, another wheelchair user and President of 'AccessAbility' organization, could not cast her vote due to inaccessibility of her polling booth.
Similar situations were noticed at Mundka (Nitholi) in North West Delhi which was completely inaccessible. Some disabled voters were also seen taking pictures of booth where wheelchair users could not enter.
“I am marking the complaint to Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities and State Commissioner of Person with Disabilities, Delhi, to take strict and appropriate action as disabled voters were deprived of their voting rights. I also declare, I am a person with disability myself. I am copying the mail to disabled voters mentioned above.”said Dr Satendra Singh.
On International Day of the Persons with Disabilities and just a day before the Delhi Elections, same issues were raised by me in the Hindi daily ‘Hindustan’ where election officer made false promises.Today’s ‘The Hindu’ has also raised the issue along with ‘The Times of India’. It’s now upon Election Commission to respond and rectify these grave mistakes in future. What is more ironical is the plight of persons with psychosocial impairment who are just not considered eligible for voting.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disability
The article has used the word 'mentally retarded' which I don't find appropriate and accordingly replaced with 'Intellectual Disability' in the title. However I shall use the original source below.
Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons
Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 2856 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971
The General Assembly ,
Mindful of the pledge of the States Members of the United Nations under the Charter to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development,
Reaffirming faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms and in the principles of peace, of the dignity and worth of the human person and of social justice proclaimed in the Charter,
Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the standards already set for social progress in the constitutions, conventions, recommendations and resolutions of the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other organizations concerned,
Emphasizing that the Declaration on Social Progress and Development has proclaimed the necessity of protecting the rights and assuring the welfare and rehabilitation of the physically and mentally disadvantaged,
Bearing in mind the necessity of assisting mentally retarded persons to develop their abilities in various fields of activities and of promoting their integration as far as possible in normal life,
Aware that certain countries, at their present stage of development, can devote only limited efforts to this end,
Proclaims this Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons and calls for national and international action to en sure that it will be used as a common basis and frame of reference for the protection of these rights:
1. The mentally retarded person has, to the maximum degree of feasibility, the same rights as other human beings.
2. The mentally retarded person has a right to proper medical care and physical therapy and to such education, training, rehabilitation and guidance as will enable him to develop his ability and maximum potential.
3. The mentally retarded person has a right to economic security and to a decent standard of living. He has a right to perform productive work or to engage in any other meaningful occupation to the fullest possible extent of his capabilities.
4. Whenever possible, the mentally retarded person should live with his own family or with foster parents and participate in different forms of community life. The family with which he lives should receive assistance. If care in an institution becomes necessary, it should be provided in surroundings and other circumstances as close as possible to those of normal life.
5. The mentally retarded person has a right to a qualified guardian when this is required to protect his personal well-being and interests.
6. The mentally retarded person has a right to protection from exploitation, abuse and degrading treatment. If prosecuted for any offence, he shall have a right to due process of law with full recognition being given to his degree of mental responsibility.
7. Whenever mentally retarded persons are unable, because of the severity of their handicap, to exercise all their rights in a meaningful way or it should become necessary to restrict or deny some or all of these rights, the procedure used for that restriction or denial of rights must contain proper legal safeguards against every form of abuse. This procedure must be based on an evaluation of the social capability of the mentally retarded person by qualified experts and must be subject to periodic review and to the right of appeal to higher authorities.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
World Mental Health Day 2012
WMH Day (10th October) raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. This year, on the 20th anniversary, the theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”. Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment. The recent case of suicide by Singer Asha Bhosle’s daughter (chronic depression patient) is a clear cut example.
People living with psychosocial disabilities are often regarded as inferior beings and thus non deserving of being fully included in all aspects of society on an equal basis with others. They remain invisible and are silenced. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) lays the foundation for challenging existing legislative frameworks, policies and programs that reflect these discriminatory attitudes and practices.
This Convention confirms the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities to have equal recognition before the law, to have access to justice, to not be deprived of their liberty simply because of the existence of a mental condition/disability, to be free from abuse, exploitation, violence and abuse, to have a family, to vote, to access education and health care services on an equal basis with their fellow citizens. Importantly this Convention does not allow for the segregation of people but rather promotes that people with psychosocial disabilities are included in their communities. This also lays the foundation for the end of institutionalization in mental health facilities and an urgent emphasis of providing accommodation and support in the communities.
Importantly, the voices of users and survivors of psychiatry and people with psychosocial disability must be heard and their visibility promoted.
Negative attitudes towards people with psychosocial disabilities devalue them and often provide a rationale for the discrimination and marginalization that exists. Legislative frameworks, including Mental Health Legislation, Policies and Plans can even formalize and legitimize these practices and beliefs and entrench inequality and violate their rights. Respect for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities within the framework of the Convention can significantly and positively transform their lives.
Download WMH Day material in English
Download WMH Day material in Hindi
This Convention confirms the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities to have equal recognition before the law, to have access to justice, to not be deprived of their liberty simply because of the existence of a mental condition/disability, to be free from abuse, exploitation, violence and abuse, to have a family, to vote, to access education and health care services on an equal basis with their fellow citizens. Importantly this Convention does not allow for the segregation of people but rather promotes that people with psychosocial disabilities are included in their communities. This also lays the foundation for the end of institutionalization in mental health facilities and an urgent emphasis of providing accommodation and support in the communities.
Importantly, the voices of users and survivors of psychiatry and people with psychosocial disability must be heard and their visibility promoted.
Negative attitudes towards people with psychosocial disabilities devalue them and often provide a rationale for the discrimination and marginalization that exists. Legislative frameworks, including Mental Health Legislation, Policies and Plans can even formalize and legitimize these practices and beliefs and entrench inequality and violate their rights. Respect for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities within the framework of the Convention can significantly and positively transform their lives.
Download WMH Day material in English
Download WMH Day material in Hindi
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Protest against MoHFW on World Mental Health Day
Disabled Rights Group (DRG) & National
Alliance on Access to Justice for People Living with Mental Illness (NAAJMI) is
organizing a protest (Dharna; sit in) outside the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) to demand an immediate stop to the process of bringing in the draconian
Mental Health ‘Care’ Act!
The day is specifically chosen as World Mental Healthcare Day, i.e. Wednesday, 10th October and the venue will be Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road at 10:00 am onwards.
Background
The day is specifically chosen as World Mental Healthcare Day, i.e. Wednesday, 10th October and the venue will be Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road at 10:00 am onwards.
Background
India is home to 30-40 million people living
with psychosocial disabilities or what we refer to as ‘mental illness’.
The archaic Mental Health Act of 1987, an offshoot of the colonial Lunacy Acts, makes people with ‘unsound’ mind non-human! They are not considered to have opinions, wishes or feelings. They are meant to be locked away, drugged and given electric shock treatments!
The Disability Act of 1995 defines ‘mental illness’ as a disability. India has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that talks about India’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of ALL persons with disabilities. However, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare seems to be knowingly or unknowingly ‘unaware’ of this. Nothing explains why then has it come out with a Mental Health Care (MHC) Bill, while completely failing to include mental health & well being into the Right to Health Act!
The draft of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2012 recently unveiled by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJE) guarantees ‘legal capacity’ and the ‘right to choice’ of all persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial disabilities. The Ministry of Health has gone drastically against CRPD and the draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill and has advocated for involuntary incarceration and continuing with electric shock treatments and even lobotomies! Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing!
Questions:
The rights of people with psychosocial disabilities must be governed by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Why is the Health Ministry then overstepping its turf? What is the Health Ministry’s motivation?
While the draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill of MSJE talks about ‘full legal capacity’, MHC Bill talks about ‘involuntary incarceration’? What is the Government of India’s stand on the issue if two of its Ministries are talking diametrically opposite on this?
Involuntary incarceration, over drugging, mental asylums, electric shock treatment and the rampant abuse & exploitation that goes on in the name of psychiatry and mental health goes against the letter of CRPD that India has ratified. What is India’s answer to the international community?
WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE PROCESS OF BRINGING A DRACONIAN MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT!
About Disabled Rights Group (DRG):
Disabled Rights Group (DRG) is a national, non-political, cross-disability coalition of people with disabilities and their organisations, NGOs working in the disability sector and parents. It was formed in 1993 with the objective of the drafting and passage of the Disability Act of 1995, India’s first ever disability rights law. Ever since, DRG has been able to successfully advocate for several path breaking policy and legislative changes on disability issues.
About NAAJMI:
The National Alliance on Access to Justice for People Living with a Mental Illness (NAAJMI) is a coalition of people and organisations active since the year 2005 to consolidate a philosophy on the human rights of persons living with psychosocial disabilities with a vision to assure “A Life of Dignity for Every Person Living with Mental Illness”. NAAJMI has been continually advocating for free and voluntary mental health care services, questioning various involuntary commitment provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1987 and is concerned about the 150 or so legal provisions disempowering people with disabilities of their various civil, political, social, and economic rights.
The archaic Mental Health Act of 1987, an offshoot of the colonial Lunacy Acts, makes people with ‘unsound’ mind non-human! They are not considered to have opinions, wishes or feelings. They are meant to be locked away, drugged and given electric shock treatments!
The Disability Act of 1995 defines ‘mental illness’ as a disability. India has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that talks about India’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of ALL persons with disabilities. However, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare seems to be knowingly or unknowingly ‘unaware’ of this. Nothing explains why then has it come out with a Mental Health Care (MHC) Bill, while completely failing to include mental health & well being into the Right to Health Act!
The draft of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2012 recently unveiled by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJE) guarantees ‘legal capacity’ and the ‘right to choice’ of all persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial disabilities. The Ministry of Health has gone drastically against CRPD and the draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill and has advocated for involuntary incarceration and continuing with electric shock treatments and even lobotomies! Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing!
Questions:
The rights of people with psychosocial disabilities must be governed by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Why is the Health Ministry then overstepping its turf? What is the Health Ministry’s motivation?
While the draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill of MSJE talks about ‘full legal capacity’, MHC Bill talks about ‘involuntary incarceration’? What is the Government of India’s stand on the issue if two of its Ministries are talking diametrically opposite on this?
Involuntary incarceration, over drugging, mental asylums, electric shock treatment and the rampant abuse & exploitation that goes on in the name of psychiatry and mental health goes against the letter of CRPD that India has ratified. What is India’s answer to the international community?
WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE PROCESS OF BRINGING A DRACONIAN MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT!
About Disabled Rights Group (DRG):
Disabled Rights Group (DRG) is a national, non-political, cross-disability coalition of people with disabilities and their organisations, NGOs working in the disability sector and parents. It was formed in 1993 with the objective of the drafting and passage of the Disability Act of 1995, India’s first ever disability rights law. Ever since, DRG has been able to successfully advocate for several path breaking policy and legislative changes on disability issues.
About NAAJMI:
The National Alliance on Access to Justice for People Living with a Mental Illness (NAAJMI) is a coalition of people and organisations active since the year 2005 to consolidate a philosophy on the human rights of persons living with psychosocial disabilities with a vision to assure “A Life of Dignity for Every Person Living with Mental Illness”. NAAJMI has been continually advocating for free and voluntary mental health care services, questioning various involuntary commitment provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1987 and is concerned about the 150 or so legal provisions disempowering people with disabilities of their various civil, political, social, and economic rights.
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