MHE collaboration with the Council of Europe

MHE collaboration with the Council of Europe (CoE) and, in particular, with the INGOs of the Council of Europe  (International Non Governmental Organisations enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe) is longstanding.

The Council of Europe is, indeed, a driving force as regards the adoption of instruments protecting the dignity and human rights of people with mental health problems: the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being, with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine; Recommendation 1235 on Psychiatry and Human Rights; Recommendation concerning the Protection of the Human Rights and Dignity of Persons with Mental Disorders; European Social Charter; etc.

MHE is enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe since 1994 and is included in the list of NGOs entitled to lodge collective complaints alleging violations of the European Social Charter.

MHE's expertise was appreciated in the frame of the consultation and adoption of the Council of Europe White Paper on the 'Protection of human rights and dignity of people suffering from mental disorder, especially those placed as involuntary patients in a psychiatric establishment ' and of the Council of Europe Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to the member states to ensure the protection of the human rights and dignity of people with mental disorder, especially those places as involuntary patients in a psychiatric establishment .

More recently, MHE has been actively participating in a reporting activity on the implementation of the European Social Charter. The initiative is led by the Council of Europe European Social Charter and Social Policies Grouping .

The reporting activity consists in checking whether the national reports sent by the States Parties of the European Social Charter (ESC) - that is to say the States that ratified the Charter - to the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), the body responsible for monitoring compliance in the States Parties to the ESC, reflect the situation on the ground. The reports are one of the means available to NGOs for monitoring the adherence of commitments made by the countries that had signed the European Social Charter.

The European Social Charter  is a Council of Europe Treaty that sets out social and economic human rights and freedoms and establishes a supervisory mechanism guaranteeing their respect by the State Parties. The rights guaranteed by the Charter concern all individuals in their daily lives: right to housing, health, employment, education, legal and social protection, non-discrimination, etc.

In 2007, MHE members were invited to engage in this reporting activity by providing expertiseand focusing on Article 15 (Right of physically or mentally disabled persons to vocational training, rehabilitation and social resettlement) and Article 20 (Right to equal opportunities and equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation without discrimination on the ground of sex) of the Charter. Several members accepted to collaborate and their contributions were forwarded to the Secretariat of the European Social Charter. To read the reports sent by MHE members in 2007, click here

MHE was also involved in the drafting of a list of issues that are specific to disabled people and people with mental health problems. This list will be used each year by the European Committee of Social Rights when scrutinising the national reports. It is intended to enable the Committee to pay more attention to the special needs of disabled people and people with mental health problems, starting with the next round of national reports.

In October 2008 MHE invited its members  to take part in the new round of national reports.

MHE members have been asked to focus in particular on Article 11 (Right to protection of health) and Article 30 (Right to protection against poverty and social exclusion) of the Charter.

Read the briefing note on the European Social Charter Reporting Activity 2008

Should you wish to take part in the reporting activity and send contributions on your national report, please contact Roselyne Bourgon, MHE Human Rights Officer, at roselyne.bourgon@mhe-sme.org