In 1991, the United Nations General Assembly passed a set of principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care. The international community will talk the talk when it comes to human rights and mental illness, but they’re still a long way from walking the walk. This post …
The UN’s Position on Human Rights and Mental Illness Read More »
There’s been a lot of talk over the last while about freedom of speech, with some people feeling that their freedom of speech, or freedom of speech in general, is being limited. I thought I’d chime in on the matter, although I’m perhaps a bit late to the party. Freedom of speech is considered a …
Just because slavery is no longer legal doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Human trafficking isn’t an issue that gets a lot of public attention, but if you look, what you can find is scary. What human trafficking is There are three fundamental elements of human trafficking: Actions: This includes recruiting, transporting, or harbouring someone in …
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is sometimes referred to euphemistically as female circumcision, but it’s drastically different from male circumcision in form, function, and consequences. FGM involves cutting or removing parts of the external female genitalia, including some or all of the clitoral glans and clitoral hood, inner labia, and outer labia. The diagram below shows …
Employers aren’t supposed to discriminate against people with mental illness. In fact, it’s often against the law. Yet employment discrimination happens anyway, and it’s a form of structural stigma. So what do we do about it when it does? Legal protection Canadian human rights legislation In Canada, provincial human rights legislation requires equal rights and …
NIMBYism is a fascinating phenomenon. NIMBYs, who think that something is okay as long as it’s Not In My BackYard, cover discrimination with a thin veneer of civility and acceptability. Among the many manifestations of this is with regards to social housing, including supported housing for people with mental illness. The NIMBY arguments NIMBYs’ arguments …
NIMBYism and Resistance to Mental Health Housing Read More »
As U.S. states like Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia are passing laws restricting abortion and gearing up to challenge the Roe v. Wade decision in the U.S. Supreme Court, I look on from north of the border with dismay and disgust. I wouldn’t want to live in a country where limited reproductive rights could mean that …
Abortion & Reproductive Rights: My Body Is My Own Read More »
