Zambia

MDAC has been cooperating with the Mental Health Users Network of Zambia since 2009. 

Current situation

The Mental Health Service Bill of 2008 is set to be adopted in 2011. This will repeal the Mental Disorders Act of 1951. The bill fails to fully comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in several important areas including the objective of bill which is to regulate admission, treatment and rehabilitation in mental health facilities without mentioning community treatment, allowing for involuntary admission and treatment, guardianship and custody in managing properties of persons with mental illness without focusing on access to support in managing properties and making decisions when needed.  It’s worth highlighting that the bill significantly incorporate human rights safeguards compared to the 1951 mental disorders act.  In our discussions, Mental Health Users Network of Zambia has pointed out past incidents of discrimination in employment, the occurrence of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation of persons with disability especially girls and women and this places questions on the enjoyment of the right to effective access to justice. 

MDAC activities

Advocacy: MDAC is collaborating with Mental Health Users Network of Zambia to engage in the mental health law reform. We will then work with a broader range of organisations to support advocacy to make changes to the bill. 

Capacity- building: supporting an advocate with psychosocial disability to participate in the 2011 summer school on “mental disability law in practice” at the Central European University in Budapest.