MandelNews.com Human Rights NEWS

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) have together launched new guidance, entitled “Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice." The WHO has reported human rights abuses and coercive practices in mental health care, which are supported by present legislation and policies, remain too common. It has been commented that "Involuntary hospitalization and treatment, unsanitary living conditions and physical, psychological, and emotional abuse characterize many mental health services across the world." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is the WHO Director-General, has said “This new guidance will support countries to make the changes needed to provide quality mental health care that assists a person’s recovery and respects their dignity." >>>WHO  

On July 12, 2024, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International won a landmark case against an attempt to suppress its freedom of speech dealing with psychiatric abuse and patients’ rights in Spain. After a long judicial battle, a judgment was secured by CCHR International and CCHR Spain from the Supreme Court of Spain which resulted in a significant defeat for the Spanish Society of Psychiatry (SEP) which had claimed that CCHR’s publications, documentaries and websites in the U.S. and in Spain served to harm their “honor.” The Supreme Court of Spain rejected this and has affirmed that CCHR’s materials “deal with a matter of undoubted general interest,” are “directly connected to the public debate in a democratic society,” while also contributing to the “social debate on psychiatry.”>>>CCHR   

Paris Hilton, of the Hilton Hotels family who is a well known American socialite and media figure, has testified to a congressional panel which has been looking into strengthening child welfare protections that she was “force-fed medications and sexually abused by stafff members" when she was institutionalized as a teenager. Hilton, who has been an outspoken advocate for better protections for children being held in youth facilities, has also said she was “violently restrained and dragged down hallways, stripped naked and thrown into solitary confinement.”>>>The Guardian

The Independent has reported Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is concerned that the American Dream is dying rapidly. He has commented that increasing wealth inequality, particularly among Black Americans, is killing the idea that people in the US can develop lives of prosperity for themselves. Dimon has said "The American dream is fraying and income inequality is like the fault line." He thinks if a tax hike is needed to help correct America's financial problems taxes should be raised on the incomes of the extremely wealthy.>>>Independent   

Amnesty International has reported people who are of reproductive age across the United States are being confronted with "ongoing, confusing changes to their ability to access abortion." In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision (2022) devastating new anti-abortion laws have emerged across the country with abortions now completely or nearly completely banned in 21 states. The US Supreme Court Dobbs decision states that the right to an abortion is not confered by the Constitution. This decision overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) which had ruled the right to an abortion was basically protected by the Constitution. Pregnant women are now being forced to give birth against their desires. International human rights law takes the position that decisions about your body should be yours alone. It is a violation of a persons human rights to force that person to continue with an unwanted pregnancy. This human rights disaster can only be confronted humanely with federal protection of the right to an abortion.>>>Amnesty International 

CCHR activists protested abuses of children via Child Psychiatry at the 18th International Congress of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. A large banner was seen which said, “ADHD: Billion-dollar business for psychiatry—no psych drugs for our children.” The protesters pointed out that today at least 20 million children are being given psychiatric drugs internationally. These drugs can include “side effects” of homicidal or suicidal ideation. Placards have also made it clear that “Childhood is not a mental disorder.” >>>CCHR

It has been reported by Yonhap News Agency that North Korea has criticized a recent release of the United States' annual report on human rights in North Korea as interference 

in the nations "internal affairs." The U.S. State Department has alleged in its report that North Koreans were exposed to many human rights abuses last year which are said to have included forced repatriations, extrajudicial killings, child labor, and forced abortion. A spokesperson for the North Koreas foreign affairs ministry has said this report was based on Washington, DCs unilateral standards and that the U.S. has been encouraging massacres of civilians by supporting overseas military operations.>>>Yonhap News Agency

UN human rights experts have expressed serious concern over a “massive crackdown” on pro-Palestinian student protests which have occured at many universities in the United States. The UN authorities have urged the US to uphold the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.

These experts have said  “The banning and attacks on student protests are a grave violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by international human rights law, and must stop immediately." They have also commented that “It is inaccurate and unjustified to bluntly label all peaceful demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinian people or calls for a ceasefire in Gaza or criticism of Israel’s policies as antisemitic.”>>>UN News 

Irene Khan, who is the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, says journalists worldwide are being confronted with more risks than ever. She says there have been online death threats and even rape threats against journalists. Between 2016-2021 there have been 455 journalists killed while doing their jobs. Targeted electronic surveillance is also being used to intimidate and shut down the work of investigative journalists.>>>United Nations Human Rights