Symposium in Brasilia discusses mental health and criminal justice

Opening session of the Simposium

Brasilia, 15 October 2014 - "The right of people with mental disorders in conflict with the law to an evidence-based treatment and to an adequate environment to serve their sentences must be guaranteed and respected", stated the Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Rafael Franzini, during a symposium on mental health and criminal justice, held in Brasilia on 14 October.

The event brought together health managers and law enforcement officials with the objective of promoting dialogue between the health and criminal justice sectors and fostering the debate about the deinstitutionalization of people with mental disorders.

During the opening session, Franzini discussed the current situation of people with mental disorders in conflict with the law. He highlighted the importance of protecting and respecting their rights. The representative also noted the prejudices against these group inside prison systems, not only by the other prisoners, but also by employees and professionals, emphasizing the serious damages resulted by such acts.

The representative of Mr. Fausto Pereira dos Santos - Brazil's Secretary on Health Attention - and Director of the Department of Strategic and Programmatic Actions (DAPES), Ms. Teresa de Lamare, was also present at the session and she highlighted the main role of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) in guaranteeing the right of a fair treatment to people with mental disorders in conflict with the law. She also emphasized the importance of treatment to be provided in an adequate environment where people with mental disorders in conflict with the law have the opportunity to develop abilities and become productive.

The General Director of the National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN/MJ), Mr.Renato de Vitto, the Federal Attorney for the Rights of the Citizens from the Federal Public Ministry, Mr. Aurelio Virgilio Rios, and the Director of the Department of Human Rights Promotion from the Secretariat of Human Rights, Mr. Marco Aurelio Juliatto, also attended the opening session.

The Symposium was held thanks to a partnership between Brazil's National Health Coordination in Prison System (SISPE) and Brazil's Secretariat of Human rights with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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