The Open Society Mental Health Initiative

News and Events

News and Anouncements

Landmark UN Treaty On Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Enters Into Force

Saturday, May 03, 2008

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force today, one month after the required twentieth country ratified the landmark treaty which guarantees the rights of some 650 million people worldwide.

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Landmark United Nations Convention On Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, Optional Protocol, Enter Into Force Tomorrow, 3 May

Friday, May 02, 2008

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is set to enter into force tomorrow, 3 May, marking a new era in efforts to protect those rights.

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more news & announcements

Funding/Opportunities

Open Society Fellowship

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Fellowship will enable outstanding individuals from around the world, journalists, activists, academics, practitioners to work on projects that inspire meaningful public debate, shape policy, and inform the thinking and activities of the Open Society Institute and the Soros foundations.

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Research Interns, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

Deadline: May 7th, 2008

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) is currently recruiting two new internships in its research department in Brussels, one Research Intern (Legal) and one Research Intern (Policy).

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more funding/opportunities

Upcoming Events

Responding To New Social Realities.

Brussels, Belgium

May 05, 2008 - May 06, 2008

The Conference will provide valuable input into the discussion on how Europe should respond to its current social challenges in an era of globalization and create discussion on how Europe should renew its social agenda.

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ERACON 2008

Lisbon, Portugal

May 07, 2008 - May 11, 2008

Erasmus Coordinators Conference and Go- Exchange Education Fair, including a theme on disabled students and teachers.

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more upcoming events

Publications and Reports

IHC Understanding Intellectual Disability

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The latest issue (April 2008) is now available. This issue includes articles on carers, the UN Disability Convention ratification progress, and an update on an education complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

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About Self-Harm: A Guide For Young People

Monday, April 28, 2008

A booklet for young people produced by Mind and Barnardo's.

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more publications and reports

UN Disability Convention

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities received its 20th ratification on April 3, 2008, triggering the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol on May 3, 2008. This marks a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Information on the convention process:
Convention in Easy to Read
View the list of signatories
Countries that have ratified the Convention
ICRPD Ratification Toolkit
Convention and Inclusive Education
View more information

News reports on the Convention:
Agreement on New UN Convention
Urging Implementation
Archive Webcast: Convention Signing 
Record Number of Countries Sign
Secretary-General Ban Hails Entry Into Force Of Treaty On Disability Rights
More news reports

Publications:
UN Handbook for Parliamentarians on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol
First Implementation Manual For The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities (Addressed Specifically To Users And Survivors Of Psychiatry)

Films about Inclusion

Foster Care for Children with Disabilities: English ** Russian

I Want to Work and I Can Work!

Living Proof: The right to live in the community

Reality - film on personal assistance

Being an Unperson. A short film about the experience of dehumanization within the care system.

In My Language. A short film about autism and nonverbal communication.

A Way of Describing Autism. A short film by Dave Spicer and Amanda Baggs.

Equalise It!

A Manifesto for Disability Equality in Development Cooperation

The international committee of UK Disabled People's Council (formerly BCODP) has written this manifesto in the light of the signing of the UN Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

To read the campaign launch letter, please click here.

Organisations who wish to sign up to the Manifesto are asked to contact Bill Albert or Mark Harrison so that their name and logo can be added to the list of signatories.