Who are experts in the field of mental disability and human rights?

Camilla Parker

Camilla Parker is an independent legal and policy consultant, specialising in mental health, disability and human rights. She has a longstanding interest in the promotion of human rights standards as a means of developing best practice in the planning and delivery of services for disabled people (including people with mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities). She is a consultant for the Open Society Mental Health Initiative and was a specialist adviser to the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the House of Lords and House of Commons (United Kingdom) in its inquiry “Human Rights and Adults with Learning Disabilities” (March 2008). Her publications include: Developing mental health policy: a human rights perspective in Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe, editors Martin Knapp et al, McGraw Hill, Open University Press (2007) and Independent Living and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Disability Rights Commission, January 2007.

Judith E. Klein, J.D.

Judith E. Klein, J.D., has been the Director of the Open Society Mental Health Initiative (MHI) since 2000, and has worked for OSI on mental disability since 1995. MHI works in 13 countries of Central Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. Throughout the region, MHI aims to ensure that people with mental disabilities are able to live as equal citizens in the community and to actively participate in society with full respect for their human rights. The focus of MHI’s activities is to end the unjustified and inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental disabilities in CEE/fSU by advocating for the closure of institutions and the development of community-based alternatives. A number of MHI supported projects across the region have had significant positive impact on the development of health and social welfare policies and governmental financing mechanisms. Prior to working at OSI, Judith Klein, a member of the State Bars of Florida and Michigan, represented people with mental disabilities in guardianship and involuntary detention hearings in the United States.