Advocacy - Publications And Reports
Advocacy for People with Mental/Intellectual Disabilities
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Advocacy for People with Mental Health Problems and Intellectual Disabilities
From Science To Action: The Lancet Series On Global Mental Health (2008), by Vikram Patel and Norman Sartorius, provides a brief history of the Lancet Global Mental Health (GMH) Series, its key messages and the initiation of the movement for Global Mental Health. It charts the development of the Series in preparing an evidence-based, consistent call for action for global advocacy.
Partners for Better Policies: A Manual for Mainstreaming (2006), was produced as part of the "Mainstreaming Mental Disability Policies" project supported by the European Commission and organized by the Open Society Mental Health Initiative, Inclusion Europe, and the Global Initiative on Psychiatry. The purpose of the manual is to provide materials relevant to people with mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities, that can be used in training events on influencing policy. It is also intended to help self-advocates and other individuals and groups who wish to become involved in the development of policies that affect them by providing information on relevant topics; making practical suggestions on how to engage with policy-makers; raise issues of concern; and give details on where to obtain further information. The manual is also available in Czech, Estonian, French, German, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, and in easy-to-read format.
People with Intellectual Disabilities Can Decide More by Themselves (2006), from the European Platform of Self-Advocates and Inclusion Europe, offers eight suggestions on how family members and professionals can promote self-advocacy and support people with intellectual disabilities be self-advocates. The brochure is also available in French, Italian, Dutch, Greek, Czech, Spanish, and Portuguese. Please contact self-advocacy@inclusion-europe.org or visit http://www.inclusion-europe.org/ for more information.
Support Coalition International: Advocating for Human Rights and Alternatives in the "Mental Health" System (2006), by Janet Foner, published by the National Empowerment Center (NEC), discusses the mission and activities of the NEC in helping people with intellectual disabilities develop leadership skills and build support systems for themselves.
Advocacy Strategy: Mencap´s Three-Year Plan for Supporting People with a Learning Disability to Speak for Themselves (2004), by Mencap, details the types and approaches of advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom. The booklet emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, and contains an easy- to-read summary that introduces a number of advocacy-related concepts.
Advocacy for Mental Health (2003), from the World Health Organization, aims to raise awareness about mental health issues and to ensure that mental health is on the agenda of governments.
The Mind Guide to Advocacy (2000), by Mind, gives an overview of the types of advocacy available for people with mental health problems.
How Advocacy Works, by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, is a factsheet providing accessible information on what it means being an advocate, and what personal advocacy entails.
Complaints and Advocacy, by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, explains how complaints can be made in case of incompetent work of the personal advocate.
Complaints and Advocacy - What It Means for You! by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, contains a list of steps to take to make a complaint about a personal advocate, as well as a checklist of issues for advocacy organizations to consider.
Confidentiality and Advocacy, by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, is a factsheet that provides accessible information on what confidentiality in advocacy means.
Confidentiality and Advocacy - What It Means for You! by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, explains what confidentiality of advocacy means in practice, and examples of situations when confidentiality may be breached.
Equal Opportunities and Advocacy, by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, is a factsheet that provides accessible information on equal opportunities and discrimination.
Equal Opportunities and Advocacy - What It Means for You! by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, explains what equal opportunity entails, and contains a checklist for an advocate to consider when dealing with discrimination.
Statement of Advocacy - What It Means for You! by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, provides accessible step-by-step information on what advocacy means, what it means to be an advocate, the role and duties of a personal advocate, and other useful information.
People With Mental Disabilities Have the Right to Vote! by the National Disability Rights Network, is a factsheet developed to encourage and assist people with intellectual disabilities with voting.
The Guidelines by Inclusion Europe have been developed for writing texts and publications so they are accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, i.e. easy-to-read texts.
Consumers in Action IV - Mental Health Consumer Survivor Advocacy (2002) is one of the guides prepared by Self Help Connection (SHC) and National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) within the framework of the Mental Health in Action Program. It explains what advocacy means and offers advice on conducting advocacy for mental health survivors.
Consumers in Action V - Consumer Survivor Self-Help Group Development (2002) is one of the guides prepared by Self Help Connection (SHC) and National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) within the framework of the Mental Health in Action Program. It contains ten steps on starting a consumer/survivor self-help group.
Consumers in Action VI - Consumer Survivor Community Participation (2002), is one of the guides prepared by Self Help Connection (SHC) and National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) within the framework of the Mental Health in Action Program. It explains the benefits of community participation for mental health survivors, and suggests various ways and venues for getting involved.
Consumers in Action VII - Tips for Preparing and Delivering Presentations (2002), is one of the guides prepared by Self Help Connection (SHC) and National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) within the framework of the Mental Health in Action Program. As the title suggests, it offers advice on making effective presentations.
Involving Users in the Delivery and Evaluation of Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review (2002), a study published in the British Medial Journal, found that involving users as employees of mental health services gave clients greater satisfaction with personal circumstances and led to less hospitalisation. Providers of services who had been trained by users had more positive attitudes toward users. Clients reported being more satisfied with services when interviewed by users. It concluded that users can be involved as employees, trainers, or researchers without detrimental effect, and that involving users with severe mental disorders in the delivery and evaluation of services is feasible.
Questionnaires from the Heart (2001), an article by Simon Champ, reflects on issues in mental health research from the user´s perspective, such as frustrations felt by consumers at their lack of involvement in research into mental health, and argues for the need for the greater partnership between consumers and researchers.
Serving on Boards and Committees: Technical Assistance Guide, by National Mental Health Consumers Self-help Clearinghouse, is a tool to help mental health consumers serve on the boards and committees that shape mental health policy. The Guide explains how to become an effective member of a board or committee. Topics include: how to get involved as a consumer advocate, how to locate opportunities for serving on boards and committees, what to expect while serving, and how to be an effective member.
Campaigning Toolkit for Civil Society Organisations Engaged in the Millennium Development Goals (2005), by Jacqui Boulle and Debbie Newton, offers a step-by-step campaigning toolkit with case studies focusing primarily on poverty reduction, access to education for all, and other millennium development goals.
Actions for People-Centered Campaigns (2004), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), offers five suggestions on how to keep campaigns people-centered.
A New Weave of Power, People & Politics: The Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation (2002), by Lisa Veneklasen with Valerie Miller, is a step-by-step guide to developing an advocacy campaign.
Nine Questions (2002), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), is a strategic planning tool for advocacy campaigns.
Campaigning Manual (2001), by Amnesty International, provides information on strategic campaigning, organizing, fundraising, preparing campaign materials, working with the media, conducting outreach, government lobbying, and human rights education.
Checklist for Choosing a Problem and an Issue, by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), is an organizing tool for comparing issues and choosing the best focus for a campaign.
Taking Action: How to File A Charge When You've Been Treated Unfairly By An Employer Because You Have A Disability (2007), a guide by the Arizona Center for Disability Law, contains practical information on where to go to file a charge of discrimination against an employer that has treated an employee unfairly on the basis of a disability; how much time is available for filing a charge; what information is necessary and what happens after filing the charge.
The NGO Role in Advocacy for the Human Rights of People with Disabilities in Bulgaria (2006), by Professor Lucia Ilieva from the Club "Sustainable Development of Civil Society," describes three projects that illustrate different focuses of Bulgarian disability-rights NGOs.
A Self-Advocacy Guide: Assistive Technology, by the Arizona Center for Disability Law, provides people with disabilities with information about, and examples of, their legal rights.
Reproductive Rights and Women with Disabilities: A Human Rights Framework, a briefing paper by the Center for Reproductive Rights, proposes a human rights framework for considering the reproductive rights of women with disabilities, taking into consideration international human rights laws and instruments and global consensus documents. Its objective is to articulate the human rights norms against which the laws and policies of nations must be measured.
Agenda 22, Local Authorities: Disability Policy Planning Instructions for Local Authorities (2001) by the Swedish Cooperative Body of Organizations of Disabled People, is a set of recommendations on how to implement the UN Standard Rules by drawing up disability policy plans.
Title III: A Self-Advocacy Guide (2001), by the Arizona Center for Disability Law, provides general information to individuals with disabilities regarding their legal rights.
Developing an Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (2004), by Goodbody Economic Consultants, commissioned by Comhairle (now the Citizens Information Board) is a series of papers analyzing the evolution of various models for disability advocacy in Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, the United States, and various parts of the United Kingdom. The publication consists of two volumes: Developing an Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (Volume 1); Developing an Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (Volume 2).
Get Your Organization Ready for e-Advocacy (2005), by Jillaine Smith and Teresa Crawford, provides information on readying an organization to make decisions about new technologies for civic engagement and on how to adopt and sustain the use of such technologies.
Basic Principles of Message Development (2005), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), offers five suggestions for effectively framing and sharing an advocacy message.
Lobbying (2005), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), provides definitions and the principal characteristics of lobbying for social justice, and offers tips on successful lobbying.
Creating Tailored Messages (2005), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), offers tips on tailoring a specific message to a given audience.
Identify an Organization's Life Cycle Stage and the Next Steps for Advocates (2004), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), presents the life cycle of an organization in six stages, highlighting general characteristics and actions that could be taken at each stage.
Identify an Issue's Life Cycle Stage and the Next Steps for Advocates (2004), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), presents the life cycle of an issue in six stages, highlighting general characteristics, next steps, and actions that could be taken at each stage.
Advocacy Leadership Assessment Form (2004), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), provides a framework for self-assessment and identifying strengths and gaps in advocacy skills, as well as formulating different types and styles of advocacy.
The article What Does it Take to Be an Effective Advocate? (2003), an article by Lisa Simmons, discusses the key "ingredients" or skills for effective advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities. For a free resource kit to help make the skills in this article a reality, send a blank email to: mailto:advocate_tools@sendfree.com.
Leadership Roles within an Advocacy Movement (2002), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), offers an information "taxonomy" of the leadership roles that Center feels are essential to the success of a citizen movement.
Advocacy for Social Justice: A Global Action and Reflection Guide (2001), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), is the first guide for worldwide social and economic justice advocates. The guide uses the elements of advocacy and expounds on current issues using comprehensive case studies.
Advocacy Tools and Guidelines: Promoting Policy Change Manual (2001), by CARE International, is a step-by-step guide for planning advocacy initiatives. It suggests a framework for identifying policy goals, creating a plan of action, and effectively building a case for change.
Working For Change in Education: A Handbook for Planning Advocacy (2001), by Save the Children - United Kingdom, is a practical guide on how to conduct advocacy in education. It sets out a way of approaching advocacy work, regardless of the educational issue being raised. It contains case studies of successful advocacy for changes in education policy and practice.
Advocacy: Building Skills for NGO Leaders (1999), by the Center for Development and Population Activities, is a detailed advocacy training manual designed for NGO leaders and managers.
An Introduction to Advocacy: Training Guide, a manual by Ritu R. Sharma, takes readers through the whole advocacy process, from defining policy issues to setting advocacy objectives.
International Human Rights and Comparative Mental Disability Law: The Role of Institutional Psychiatry in the Suppression of Political Dissent (2006), by Michael L. Perlin, poses questions as to the remaining problems of institutionalization, following some reforms in the former communist countries, and the implications for the human rights of mental health problems.
Bringing Rights to Bear: An Advocate's Guide to the Work of UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies on Reproductive and Sexual Rights (2006), by the Center for Reproductive Rights, provides an overview of the functioning of the United Nations´ instruments and bodies, and explains how advocates can use them to advance the cause of their constituencies.
Minority Rights Advocacy in the European Union: A Guide for NGOs in South-East Europe (2006), published by the Minority Rights Group International, is a guide for minority and human rights activists in South Eastern Europe on how to advocate successfully for the inclusion of minority issues in the EU accession process and how to improve protection of minority rights. It includes an overview of the structure and processes of the EU, describes EU policy and the nature of its engagement in SEE, and details the EU standards and mechanisms for minority protection. The guide also describes advocacy opportunities available for minority rights campaigners and offers practical advocacy tools.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples (2005), published by the Minority Rights Group International, is intended for minority rights activists and those they work with. It provides an overview of economic, social and cultural rights and how these can be applied to minorities and indigenous peoples. Each chapter provides practical information and advice about advocacy. The chapters cover the rights to food and water, housing, health, education, labor and culture and describe the legal standards, enforcement mechanisms, and guidelines for successful civil society advocacy.
How the European Union Works: A Citizen's Guide to EU Institutions (2005), provides an introduction to the European Union and its institutions. Specific contacts, organizational charts, maps, and other information necessary to navigate the EU institutions are available at: http://europa.eu/abc/index_en.htm.
Participation in Economic Life: An Advocacy Guide for Minorities in South-East Europe (2005), published by the Minority Rights Group International, provides an overview of the rights and mechanisms relevant to minorities for participation in economic life in South Eastern Europe. It includes best practice examples and lessons learned by individuals and organizations working to enhance economic participation for minorities in the region.
Resource Book on Mental Health, Human Rights, and Legislation (2005), published by the World Health Organization, aims to assist countries in drafting, adopting and implementing policies and plans that are in line with internationally accepted human rights standards and good practices. It highlights the key issues and principles to be incorporated into legislation.
NGO Toolkit: European Parliament Elections (2004), published by Act4Europe, provides detailed information on the functioning and the procedures of the European Parliament for civil society organizations engaged in advocacy and lobbying.
Party Contacts in Europe (2004), published by Act4Europe, contains contact information for political parties all over Europe. The lists are helpful for identifying the names of candidates standing for European Parliament elections, and the manifestos of these parties on European policies. The lists are regularly updated and available on the Act4Europe website.
Minority Rights: A Guide to United Nations Procedures and Institutions (2004), published by the Minority Rights Group International, explains the mechanisms, procedures and institutions of the United Nations. It shows how minorities and minority based non-governmental organizations can use the UN to promote respect for minority rights. It offers practical advice and step-by-step guidance on working with the UN. Beginning with how to identify the best entry points for minority issues, the guide goes on to explain how to provide information, follow up cases and lobby for issues in the most effective way.
Human Rights And Disability: The Current Use And Future Potential Of United Nations Human Rights Instruments In The Context Of Disability (2002), a study commissioned by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCR), was influential in arguing for the creation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
Making the Mountain Move: An Activist's Guide to How International Human Rights Mechanisms Can Work for You (2000), by Scott Long, is a guide to globally available mechanisms for advocacy, with specific reference to sexual minorities and sexuality issues, but it has relevance for a number of fields.
The Human Rights Reference Handbook (1999), by Magdalena Sepulveda, T.R.G. van Banning, et al., is a guide to internationally available human rights protection mechanisms, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, and other regional and global mechanisms.
Strategic Litigation
Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment under the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 3) (2006), prepared and published by Interights, is a manual for lawyers on the application of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Non-Discrimination in International Law: A Handbook for Practitioners (2005), by Interights, a detailed and up-to-date strategic litigation handbook, has a chapter on litigating disability-based discrimination.
Strategic Litigation of Race Discrimination in Europe: From Principles to Practice (2005), by the European Roma Rights Center, Interights, and the Migration Policy Group, is a manual on strategic litigation based on the European Union's Race Directive, with lessons, hypothetical exercises, and case-studies applicable to litigating disability-based discrimination under the Race Directive.
Training Materials for Lawyers and NGOs on the European Convention on Human Rights and the Rights of People with Mental Health Problems and/or Developmental Disabilities (2002), by the Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC), is a manual written for lawyers and NGOs, and provides insight into the European Convention on Human Rights and mental disability issues in Central and Eastern Europe. Definitions of mental health problems and intellectual disabilities are given along with relevant articles of the European Convention on Human Rights and case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
How to Complain to the UN Human Rights Treaty System (2002), by Anne F. Bayefsky, is a practical guide to the UN system of individual complaints.
Promoting Justice: A Practical Guide to Strategic Human Rights Lawyering (2001), by Richard J. Wilson and Jennifer Rasmussen, with Scott Codey, is a guide to strategic methods employed by legal services organizations all over the world.
What Laws Protect Someone with Psychiatric Disability? (1997), by the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, outlines legal mechanisms for the protection of the rights of persons with psychiatric disabilities at work and in school.
Working with the Media
Using the Media to Advance Your Issue (2004), by The Advocacy and Leadership Center (formerly the Advocacy Institute), includes information on gaining media access, framing an issue, organizing materials, writing press releases, and meeting with editorial boards.
Dr. Randall Hansen's Guide to Writing Successful Press Releases provides a host of useful resources to help write better press releases. The expertise and tools provided here are applicable to any kind of promotional campaign.
CanadaOne's Free Interactive Press Release Builder is a helpful step-by-step guide for preparing media press releases, from identifying when to use press releases and how to prepare them, to distributing them.
Press Release Writing Tips an online resource details seven basic elements that every press release should have, both in terms of content and form/appearance.
WITNESS: The Video Advocacy Specialists is a training tool for human rights defenders to use video to document human rights issues.