Introduction
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (UNDRMRP) is a document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 1971. It is the first international document of its kind to recognize the rights of persons with mental disabilities. The Declaration has been called “the first systematic and comprehensive international statement on the rights of persons with mental disabilities.” (United Nations, 1971).
Background
Since the 1970s, the international community has sought to protect the rights of persons with mental disabilities. The Declaration was a response to the growing demand for international standards to ensure the rights of persons with mental disabilities are respected. In the 1960s, a global discourse on mental health reform emerged and the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons in 1971. This Declaration was the first to recognize the rights of persons with mental disabilities, and it set the tone for subsequent international instruments that addressed the rights of persons with disabilities.
Content
The Declaration recognizes the right of persons with mental disabilities to the same fundamental human rights as other persons. Article 1 of the Declaration states that “All persons with mental retardation have the right to the same fundamental human rights and freedoms enjoyed by all other persons, without discrimination on the basis of mental disability.” The Declaration also calls for the recognition of the rights of persons with mental disabilities to the same economic, social, and cultural rights as other persons.
The Declaration also recognizes the rights of persons with mental disabilities to independent living, to education, to health care, and to employment. Article 9 of the Declaration states that persons with mental disabilities should be provided with reasonable access to health care services and opportunities for education and employment.
The Declaration also seeks to protect persons with mental disabilities from exploitation and abuse. Article 11 of the Declaration states that persons with mental disabilities should be protected from exploitation and abuse, and that they should not be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Conclusion
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons is an important contribution to the international protection of the rights of persons with mental disabilities. The Declaration sets out a comprehensive set of rights for persons with mental disabilities and provides an important framework for the recognition and protection of their rights. The Declaration is an important starting point for the international community to ensure that the rights of persons with mental disabilities are respected.
References
United Nations. (1971). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/2856%28XXVI%29