title: Reversing hard won victories in the name of human rights: a critique of the General Comment on Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
abstract: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a major milestone in safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities. However, the General Comment on Article 12 of the CRPD threatens to undermine critical rights for persons with mental disabilities, including the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, access to justice, the right to liberty, and the right to life. Stigma and discrimination might also increase. Much hinges on the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' view that all persons have legal capacity at all times irrespective of mental status, and hence involuntary admission and treatment, substitute decision-making, and diversion from the criminal justice system are deemed indefensible. The General Comment requires urgent consideration with the full participation of practitioners and a broad range of user and family groups.
authors.affiliation: National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address: Freemm@health.gov.za.
authors.forename: Melvyn Colin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolappa
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jose Miguel Caldas
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.affiliation: Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makhashvili
authors.affiliation: National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sifiso
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phakathi
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saraceno
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014480:United Nations