Human rights law is a powerful, but often neglected,
tool in advancing the rights and freedoms of persons with
mental disabilities. International law may seem marginal
or unimportant in developed countries with democratic and
constitutional systems of their own. Yet, even democracies
often resist reform of mental health law and policy, and
domestic courts do not always compel changes necessary
for the rights and welfare of persons with mental disabilities.
Additionally, human rights are obviously important for
countries without democratic and constitutional systems
because they may provide the only genuine safeguard against
abuse of persons with mental disabilities ostensibly based
on political, social, or cultural justifications.
Strengthening Human Rights in Global Health Law: Lessons from the COVID-19 Response
