Amnesty International USA

WHEREAS AIUSA and AI-International do not have a mental health project in the United States and generally do not include psychiatric patients as possible prisoners of conscience or political prisoners with the exception of Bulgarian mental patients in 2002 and Romanian mental patients in 2004; and

WHEREAS the mentally ill are, to a great extent, a forgotten population; and

WHEREAS AI's mission is focused on research and action for preventing abuses to physical and mental integrity, etc., then the violations of human rights and abuses of the mentally ill is clearly in accord with the Amnesty International mission;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that AIUSA publicly state its support for increased attention to violations targeted at individuals with psychiatric disorders, and those in mental health institutions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that AIUSA will encourage the International Secretariat (IS) to further incorporate and integrate individuals with psychiatric disorders and those in mental health institutions into their actions and research.