NIHRC host international experts on World Mental Health Day

Yesterday’ World Mental Health Day’ the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission hosted a high level discussion on mental capacity issues and human rights.
Experts from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights presented their report’ “Legal capacity of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems’” to an audience of mental health professionals’ legal practitioners and other experts in the field.
The event included a discussion around the Mental Capacity Bill currently being developed for Northern Ireland. The Commission has consistently emphasised the need to ensure that the Bill is fully in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Speaking at the event’ NIHRC Director Virginia McVea said: “The UNCRPD establishes guarantees in law; it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these guarantees are the lived reality for people with disabilities in Northern Ireland.
“We are holding this event to foster greater understanding around the implications of the Mental Capacity Bill for rights holders in Northern Ireland. Together with other stakeholders’ we will continue to promote the rights contained within the UNCRPD.”


ENDS
Further information:
The FRA report can be downloaded from http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/legal-capacity-persons-intellectual-disabilities-and-persons-mental-health-problems
World Mental Health Day (WMHD)’ held every year on the 10^th October’ raises awareness and supports prevention of mental health related issues.
For further information please contact Alice Neeson on: alice.neeson@nihrc.org’ (028) 9024 3987 (office)’ 0771 7731873 (mobile).

Notes to editors
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body first proposed in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998) and established in 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act (1998). It is answerable to Parliament at Westminster.