Fastfact: organisational history
The Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) is a Hungarian non-governmental organisaiton and was registered as a foundation by the Budapest Capital Court in November 2002 (registration number 8689). The Open Society Institute (OSI) is the founder and continues to be one of MDAC's donors. OSI was at that time offering grants to grassroots disability organisations, and in so doing identified a need for a regional human rights organisation to specifically challenge human rights abuses against people with disabilities.
Upon its foundation MDAC’s main objectives were to promote legal and other forms of advocacy for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and psycho-social (mental health) disabilities. Its focus was principally upon central and eastern Europe and, the former Soviet Union. The goal was simple: to improve the quality of life for such individuals by advocating public policies that promoted community integration, self-determination and support for them and their families.
In 2004 MDAC gained participatory status with the Council of Europe.
In 2006 MDAC refined and broadened its mission and vision to
advance the human rights of children and adults with actual or perceived intellectual or psycho-social (mental health) disabilities. Focusing on Europe and central Asia, MDAC uses a combination of law and advocacy to promote equality and social integration.
Its vision is for a world that values emotional, mental and learning differences, and where people respect each other’s autonomy and dignity.
The challenges faced by MDAC and those for whom it works are immense. Human rights abuses include discrimination, inequality, inadequate care, treatment and support, deprivation of liberty, isolation and segregation. Through national and international litigation and advocacy, campaigns at national and international levles and through education, steady progress is being made. Click here to view MDAC's impact .
