The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [[Footnote: The Council of Europe is the European oldest political organisation, founded in 1949. Based in Strasbourg, it gathers together 46 countries, including 21 countries from Central and Eastern Europe. The Council was set up to defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law, develop continent-wide agreements to standardise social and legal practices, and promote awareness of a European identity.]]
adopted on the 24 June 2005 a resolution calling governments to ensure that fundamental rights and dignity of mentally ill persons are respected.
The Resolution 1460 recalls that many European countries either do not have yet a mental health legislation consistent with human rights principles, or do not implement it.
In line with the World Health Organisation Action plan and Declaration of Helsinki, the Council of Europe particularly advocates governments to:
– Increase the budget for mental health, allowing efficient health programme and highly trained staff;
– Cooperate with healthcare professionals, especially General Practioners, users and civil society in the law-making process;
– Encourage the shift from mentally-ill in institutions to community-based provision;
– Pay special attention to children and adolescents;
– Take action to guarantee the rights of vulnerable population, especially to prevent abuses in the hospitalisation.
Mental Health Europe, an EPHA member, welcomes this resolution and encourages NGOs to call their governments to bring into reality these recommendations based on the European Convention on Human Rights.