The Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) advances the human rights of children and adults with actual or perceived intellectual or psycho-social disabilities. Focusing on Europe and Central Asia, it uses a combination of law and advocacy to promote equality and social integration. MDAC has participatory status with the Council of Europe.

MDAC's vision is for a world that values emotional, mental and learning differences, and where people respect each others autonomy and dignity.

Three disability ‘firsts’ in a European Court of Human Rights case

2 June 2009. In the recent case of Glor v. Switzerland, the European Court of Human Rights has for the first time (1) found a violation of the right to non-discrimination on the basis of the applicant’s disability, (2) referred to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and (3) used the human rights concept of “reasonable accommodation”.

Russian Ombudsman throws weight behind guardianship reforms

Moscow, Russia and Budapest, Hungary, 29 May 2009. At a roundtable event held yesterday in Moscow under the auspices of the Russian Ombudsman, NGOs advocated for a root and branch reform of legislation concerning guardianship for adults with disabilities, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The roundtable discussion, co-organised by the Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) and the NGO Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia, was attended by parliamentarians, representatives of the Ministry of Health and local guardianship authorities, psychiatrists and human rights and disability NGOs.

New Mental Health Law for Egypt

18 May 2009. The Egyptian Parliament adopted in late April 2009 a new law entitled the “Law for the Care of Mental Patients”. Mental health law reform is particularly timely in Egypt given the country’s ratification in April 2008 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which includes rights provisions for persons with mental health disabilities.