Estonia
MDAC has, since its inception, researched and analysed Estonian mental health law. In doing so we have highlighted how outdated that law is when compared to other European countries. As a dirct result of MDAC's work, the UN Human Rights Committe told the Estonian government to amend its laws. We have made recommendations on how best to do this, and will work with the government on their implementation during the drafting of the new Mental Health Act in 2008.
In a series of cases taken with our partner organisation, MDAC has focused on challenging abuses in the guardianship system. We have for instance lodged a case at the European Court of Human Rights on the unacceptable way in which people under guardianship are sent to social care institutions. In another case our client, an adult woman, was ordered to live in a social care institution for three years without a court review. MDAC and its partner organisation successfully helped this client get out of the institution and return to the community.
We are also representing the mother of a man who died whilst being physically and chemically restrained in a psychiatric hospital. To the best of our knowledge this is the first legal case concerning a death in an Estonian mental health institution. It is currently pending before Estonian courts.
Although Estonia has signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it has failed to ratify it. See why it should ratify now and how you can join us in our campaign to encourage ratification by clicking here.
Please help us to continue our work in Estonia and elsewhere by donating to MDAC.
Related Documents
Committee_against_Torture_concluding_observations.doc (102KB)
MDAC_recommendations_for_reforming_Estonian.doc (238KB)
Related Websites
Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee : Estonia
Estonian Patients Advocacy Association
