March 25th 2021
Since 2014, the Council of Europe (regional organisation composed of 47 European countries) and its Committee of Bioethics are working on a piece of legislation to regulate involuntary treatment and placement in psychiatry – the so-called “draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention”. This initiative has been highly criticised by users and survivors of psychiatry, organisations of persons with disabilities, other civil society organisations, bodies within the Council of Europe and experts from the United Nations, including the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Despite the opposition, member states of the Council of Europe have continued to support the work on this draft protocol, ignoring their obligations under international law. A final draft has been approved and will be put for a vote in June 2021 within the Committee of Bioethics, for final adoption at the end of 2021 or early 2022.
The European Disability Forum and Mental Health Europe, together with numerous stakeholders are strengthening efforts to oppose the draft and request the withdrawal of the protocol.
At this occasion, we have launched an advocacy toolkit against the draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention. Speakers included representatives from the European Disability Forum, Mental Health Europe, the European Network of (Ex)-Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Human Rights Watch, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and more!