QualityRights Training: Protection against coercion, violence and abuse

The World Health Organization's (WHO) QualityRights initiative aims to improve the quality of care and support provided in social and mental health services, and to promote the human rights of people with psychosocial, intellectual or cognitive disabilities worldwide.

The training and guidance modules of the QualityRights initiative aim to increase knowledge, skills and understanding among key stakeholders on how to promote the rights of people with psychosocial, intellectual or cognitive disabilities, as well as improve the quality of services and support provided in the field of mental health and other related areas, in line with international human rights standards and, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the recovery approach.

Numerous publications and reports from countries, the UN, NGOs and the media reveal that people with psychosocial, intellectual or cognitive disabilities around the world suffer violence, mistreatment and coercive practices by social and mental health services.

Through this training module, participants will explore how and why violence, coercion, and abuse occur in mental health settings and gain a deeper understanding of the significant impact these practices have on individuals . The module also examines the role of power dynamics in exacerbating violence, coercion, and abuse, and explains the CRPD's requirements for preventing these practices. Finally, participants will learn about some of the key strategies and approaches that have proven effective in permanently ending abusive practices within services.