The work of the Special Committee on Human Rights (SCHR)
The SCHR is pleased to announce that we have recently improved our web pages to better explain what we do and who is in the committee, as well discussing the history of human rights in mental health.
We’re also excited to launch our new newsletter – more details are below.
The role of the committee
The SCHR has a unique position as the only College committee within a professional medical organisation globally that is solely dedicated to human rights. The question often asked is about the need for a special committee just for the purpose of upholding human rights, as surely, all psychiatrists know about human rights?
The answer is nuanced. Psychiatrists often practice their trade without the full awareness that their patients have certain rights like autonomy, dignity, liberty, family life, which are codified in legislation. Violation of such rights is not only harmful for the patient, it could also be a breach of the law.
A committee like the SCHR thus exists not only to keep track of legislative changes in the field but also to ensure that each psychiatrist within the College receives the necessary training and awareness of these human rights principles to apply in their practice.
The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which sets out the human rights of people with disabilities, which includes mental disabilities.
The other important legal framework for psychiatric practice in the UK is provided by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is interpreted and updated constantly by the European Court of Human Rights. The key rights within it are:
- Article 2 – right to life
- Article 3 – prohibiting inhuman or degrading treatment
- Article 5 – deprivation of liberty
- Article 8 – respect for private and family life.
These principles are codified in the Human Rights Act in the UK, which was passed by UK Parliament in 1998 but came into force on 2 October 2000.
The SCHR’s mission is not only to ensure protection for mental health patients, but also to ensure the protection of psychiatrists looking after them, by ensuring they have the necessary awareness and training in core human rights principles so as not to fall foul of the law. This is particularly challenging in contexts such as involuntary treatment, detention, and interactions with the criminal justice system.
Current areas of focus
The SCHR’s current priorities reflect both ongoing and emerging challenges. These include:
- Coercion and involuntary treatment thresholds-this is important, for example, in the context of discussions around the new Mental Health Act for England. The SCHR is currently responding on behalf of the College to a guidance and practice document published in 2025 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations. The SCHR is offering an alternative interpretation of coercion and involuntary treatment based more on SCHR and UNCRPD principles
- Mental health among forcibly displaced populations-the SCHR has published a joint report with the Working Group for Forced Migration on the mental health of those affected by forced migration with rapidly changing immigration legislation.
- The intersection of human rights and new technologies such as AI; the SCHR is working with the Informatics Committee and the Digital Special Interest Group to develop some guidelines around the adaptation of new technologies and their human rights implications.
- Delays in prison transfers-the SCHR is working on a journal editorial to highlight the human rights implications of this issue.
- Education and training in human rights for psychiatrists-the SCHR is writing an article on the link between mental health and human rights for a College publication and suggesting CASC scenarios for the MRCPsych examination. The SCHR has also collaborated with the British Institute of Human Rights to develop a half-day training programme on human rights linked to mental health
- The human rights and mental health impacts of violent conflict-a sub-group of the SCHR has been formed to explore this area in more detail.
- Sustainability and human rights in psychiatric services-The SCHR is writing an article for a College journal to highlight this area, jointly with the Sustainability Committee.
Read our inaugural newsletter
Issue #1 of the SCHR newsletter is now live (members only). This newsletter will be published twice a year.
This first issue contains items on:
- the role of the SCHR
- an interview with the Dean, Professor Subodh Dave, highlighting his views on human rights
- a section on making mental health legislation more accessible
- reviews of arts and literature through a human rights lens.
Subscribe for future updates
If anyone would like to receive future newsletters to your inbox, please subscribe by visiting the sign-up page. We urge members to sign up to receive it and make suggestions on topics and cases they want covered. It will be a great way to stay informed and involved.