MINUTES

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE OF THE BOARD

Tuesday 20^th August 2002 at 5.00 PM Danish time

 Iris Hölling
Judi Chamberlin
Karl Bach
Mary O’Hagan

Eva Hansen (secr) 

Tina Minkowitz had been invited to take part as well. 

No contact could be made to Gisela Sartori, Helen Connor and Masaji Koganezawa

 1.                   UN Convention – meetings in New York

 Judi Chamberlin and Tina Minkowitz were present at the meetings, and it was felt that the delegates listened to the WNUSP points of view. Apart from USA, other countries did not have any users/survivors at the meetings. It is recommended that each country makes an effort to get representatives on the delegation.  Tina  will make a report shortly. The impression is that WNUSP will be able to get influence.

 Tina has made contact to a Latin American user/survivor movement.

 At the DPI world congress in Japan in October  Judi will possibly be present, Mary is a member of the panel. Maybe also Tina will go.

 There is no decision regarding the next IDA meeting.

 The next ad hoc meeting in New York will be in May 2003.

 Tina will forward UN recognition material to the secretariat.

 Tina  checks the position about accreditation at the ad hoc committee

 The board thanked Tina Minkowitz for her great job for WNUSP.

 2.                   Letter from SCI

 David Oaks has written re the WFMH congress in Melbourne. Mary will find out what happened with our (two) letters to WFMH – WNUSP were promised seats in the scientific and organizing committee.

 3.                   Human rights watch report (WHO)

 A report has been published about mental hospitals in China. The report is damaging to our rights , as it claims that inhuman conditions at the hospitals are only inhuman, if “normal” people are subjected to them. Judi will draft a letter expressing our attitude.

 4.                   UK mail from RFI for Community Mental Health (Richmond Fellowship International)

 Tina will continue the correspondence, expressing our good will.

 5.                   Other issues

 It was decided to appoint Tina as WNUSP consultant. Tina may be called to attend board  meetings when relevant and asked to represent WNUSP at various meetings.

 Mary will attend the international workshop on the "Universal Electoral Rights for People with Disabilities: Developing Guidelines and Implementation Strategies". in Stockholm on 14th-17th September.

 Gisela Sartori is asked to organize the next telephone conference.

 Eva tries to contact Helen Connor and Masaji  Koganezawa.

 Next telephone conference Wednesday 2^nd October 2002.