[hr-education] Study session on mental disability rights litigation (Strasbourg, 17-19 October 2005)

STUDY SESSION ON MENTAL DISABILITY RIGHTS LITIGATION - 2005
FOCUS ON GUARDIANSHIP
Strasbourg, 17-19 October 2005

The Council of Europe (Directorate General of Human Rights) and the NGO
Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) are organising the second annual
study session for lawyers providing legal assistance to people with mental
health problems and people with intellectual disabilities. The three-day
study session will take place from 17 to 19 October 2005 at the European
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France and is supported by the Sigrid
Rausing Trust.

The 2005 study session will provide participants with practical examples
of how to use the European Convention on Human Rights in applications on
behalf of people with mental disabilities, focusing on issues of legal
(in)capacity and guardianship. The sessions will include:

      Lectures on relevant articles and procedure of the European
      Convention on Human Rights
      Practical information about how to use ECHR arguments in domestic
      courts, and how to apply to the European Court of Human Rights
      Information on other Council of Europe instruments (in particular the
      Committee of Ministers Recommendation R(99)4 on "Principles
      Concerning the Legal Protection of Incapable Adults")
      Discussions on using litigation to promote law and policy reform
      A moot trial exercise

The study session will be facilitated by Council of Europe staff, MDAC
lawyers and outside experts. Participants should be practising lawyers
involved (or interested) in representing people with mental disabilities
in any of the Council of Europe member states. Lawyers from Central and
Eastern Europe are particularly encouraged to apply. The working language
will be English. Travel and subsistence costs for selected applicants will
be covered.

In order to apply for participation in this study session please submit in
English a letter of interest detailing your prior experience in
guardianship litigation (if any) and citing what you hope to gain from
your participation. Please also forward your CV in English.  Applications
should be sent to MDAC by email to mdac@mdac.info with the subject line
"Strasbourg", or by fax to +361 413 2739. Applications will be considered
as soon as received, either until 5 September 2005 or until places have
been filled.

The Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) is an international
non-governmental organization based in Budapest that promotes and protects
the human rights of people with mental health problems and people with
intellectual disabilities across Central and Eastern Europe and Central
Asia. MDAC works to improve the quality of life for people with mental
disabilities through litigation, research and international advocacy. MDAC
has participatory status at the Council of Europe and is a cooperating
organization of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.




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