CONFERENCE ON

The Intersection of Mental Health and Human Rights in South Africa

26 NOVEMBER 2015

VENUE: PARKTONIAN HOTEL, BRAAMFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG,

SOUTH AFRICA

Provisional Programme

08:30 – 09:00 Arrival, Registration, and Tea

09:00 – 09:15 Welcome David Bilchitz, University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Law & Director, South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law

09:15 – 09:45 Keynote AddressAmita Dhandha, (Head of the Centre for Disability Studies and the Centre for Legal Philosophy and Justice Education, NALSAR University of Law)

09:45 – 11:15 Session 1: Autonomy and AgencyThis panel will focus on issues of autonomy of persons with mental illness from the philosophical, legal and practical perspectivesDavid Bilchitz (University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg)Nhlanhla Mkhize (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban) Melvyn Freeman (National Department of Health, Pretoria)

11:15 – 11:45 Tea

11:45 – 13:15 Session 2: Vulnerability and ProtectionThis panel will consider the responsibility to protect persons with psychological disabilities which involve questions of vulnerability and autonomySaths Cooper (International Union of Psychological Science, South Africa)Rita Thom (University of the Witwatersrand)Magdaleen Swanepoel (University of South Africa)

13:15 – 14:15 Lunch

14:15 – 15:45 Session 3: Access to CareThis panel will consider the positive obligations to ensure access to treatment as well as questions of the equality of funding of mental health in comparison to physical healthBonita Meyersfeld (University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)Greg Jonnson (Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg)Crick Lund (University of Cape Town, Cape Town)

15:45 – 16:00 Tea

16:00 – 17:30 Session 4: ParticipationThis panel will consider the right of persons with psychosocial disabilities to equally participate in societyFaraaz Mahomed (South African Human Rights Commission, Johannesburg)Willene Holness (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban)Bharti Patel (South African Federation for Mental Health, Johannesburg)

17:30 – 19:00 Body Break

19:00 – 19:30 Transfer to Dinner for Speakers

19:30 – 21:30 Dinner

Thursday, 26 November 2015