Human Rights and the First 25 Years of the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry

Abstract
Human Rights and the First 25 Years of the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry
François Ferrero
Honorary Professor, University of Geneva, Switzerland
francois.ferrero@unige.ch

The speaker proposes to return to the multiple origins of this revolutionary concept, that is Human Rights before recalling certain developments by contextualizing them from an historical perspective.
Concerning Psychiatry, the World Psychiatric Association adopted Human Rights statements since 1977, the most recent of which is the WPA Code of Ethics, in 2020.
At the same time, the United Nations has adopted various texts, such as the Convention on Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) in 2006, which represents a real paradigm shift in the way people with disabilities are considered. This Convention was completed in 2015 by the Sustainable Development Goals and Mental Health, and in 2023 by the Resolution on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, which confirm the impressive dedication of the UN to mental health.
It gives also an opportunity to discuss the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry, founded in Geneva in 1998. The Prize is intended to recognize a person, or an organization, for exceptional achievements promoting equity and humanity in psychiatric care, reducing discrimination against patients, and encouraging the application of Human Rights and Ethics in Psychiatry. A brief overview of the outstanding achievements of the 10 laureates will close the presentation

François Ferrero