United Nations Commission On Human Rights - Human Rights and Mental Health

Human Rights and Mental Health

In 1977, the commission formed a "Sub-Commission to study, with a view to formulating guidelines, if possible, the question of the protection of those detained on the grounds of mental ill-health against treatment that might adversely affect the human personality and its physical and intellectual integrity". The sub-commission was charged with "determin whether adequate grounds existed for detaining persons on the grounds of mental ill-health."

The guidelines that resulted have been criticized for failing to protect the rights of involuntary patients.

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