Resolutions to WFMH Received and seconded

Accepted

Resolutions offered by the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP)

1. Because of concern about the spread of forced psychiatric procedures into the community, resolved that WFMH supports the position of WNUSP in opposition to involuntary outpatient commitment. (Read by Lisa, US)

2. As a first step toward increasing the involvement of users and survivors of psychiatry in WFMH, resolved that tow user and survivor Board seats be created and implemented today. On behalf of suers and survivors present at this Congress we affirm the Board candidacies of Janet Meagher and Sylvia Caras. (Read by Robin, UK. Two elected but I'm not sure if the seats are actually dedicated; we may have to press this issue every Congress.)

3. Resolved that the Board re-affirm the Recommendations adopted in London and the Resolution passed in Finland concerning the meaningful involvement in WFMH of users and survivors of psychiatry, and develop an action implementation plan on this issue. (Read by Iris, Germany)

4. That the WFMH Board and the people who attend theCongress reflect and respect the cultural diversity of their regions and of the world. (Read by Masaji, Japan and translated by Fumi)

Resolution offered by the Chilean Consumers

I don't have this either in Spanish or in English and will ask for a copy from the WFMH office.

Formalisation

Recommendations to formalise the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP)

There have been several attempts to develop and formalize a worldwide user and survivor network over the last 10 years. None of them have been successful. A small group of users and survivors met in Santiago this weekend (September 4 - 6, 1999) to make recommendations to the users and survivors at this Congress, on the first steps needed over the next two years to formalise the network. The meeting was funded by the International Disability Foundation (IDF) and Nils Gussing from the IDF came to the meeting to give technical advice. He has indicated that IDF would look favourably on continuing to give financial assistance and technical advice to the development of WNUSP.

Recommendations

1. Name

That the name of the network, in the meantime, remains the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry.

2. Purpose

That the purpose of WNUSP is to be a global forum and voice of users and survivors of psychiatry, to promote their interests.

3. Aims

That the aims of WNUSP, to assist it to reach its purpose are:

1. To promote the development of national user and survivor organisations in each country.
2. To develop effective information exchange among user and survivor organisations, and individuals active in the movement.
3. To provide international representation and consultation to influence matters that affect users and survivors.

4. Constitution

That Mary O'Hagan in close consultation with Karl Bach Jensen write a draft constitution for WNUSP and in so doing:

1. Refine the purpose statement and aims
2. Define the membership, the processes for becoming a member and for terminating membership
3. Define how often the general assembly will meet, its functions, including election of the governing committee, the quorum and voting procedures.
4. Define the number on the governing committee, its composition in terms of regional representation, and how panel members become elected, terminated and replaced.
5. Define how often the governing committee should meet, the notice given for meetings, the quorum required and the decision making process.
6. Define the roles of the officers and how they get elected.
7. Define how expenditure is controlled, rules changed and the organisation dissolved.

5. Approval of constitution

That funding is sought for the interim committee to meet to approve the constitution by the end of April 2000.

6. Legal incorporation

That the constitution be legally incorporated, eg in Switzerland

7. Election of interim committee

That the users and survivors at the congress elect an interim committee of eight people - two from each region - Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific -- and that the users and survivors present from each of these regions select their own two interim committee members.

8. Tasks of interim committee

That the tasks of the interim committee will be to:

1. Ensure the constitution is developed in consultation with users and survivors, and adopted by April 2000
2. Develop a comprehensive electronic database or user and survivor organisations and key individuals by December 2000
3. Promote WNUSP to national and regional user and survivor organisations and invite them to join before the first general assembly by July 2001
4. Seek funding for and organise the first general assembly by December 2001
5. Select a site and contact address for WNUSP by April 2000
6. Develop a strategy to increase user and survivor participation in the World Federation fro Mental Health by April 2000
7. Develop a three year action plan to be approved by the first general assembly by December 2001

9. Dissolution of interim committee

That the interim committee be dissolved and replaced by a constitutionally elected committee at the first general assembly of WNUSP

10. Interim membership

That the names and organisations of the users and survivors at the Congress meetings give written support for these recommendations and become interim members of WNUSP - subject to ratification from the organizations by 31 December 1999.

Decisions

Stage I: Receipt of Communication

Letter or Communication received by a member of interim committee that requires a response or action. That person is to respond immediately by acknowledging the receipt to the sender.

... thanks for correspondence, ... will be considered by appropriate persons, ... a considered response will follow.

Stage II: Circulation

If a broad response or opinion is required, the material should be circulated to interim committee members. The recipient could do this, the contact person, or, if electronic, it could be e-mailed per Sylvia Caras.

Stage III: Timing

urgent

If an urgent response is required, the interim committee members wishing to respond must do so in approximately one week. It is suggested that the recipient draft a proposed response for comment to be distributed with the request when circulated. This would save time.

non-urgent

If there is no apparent urgency, interim committee members would have up to a month to consider their responses.

Stage IV: Response

Responsibility for finalization of the issue and seeing that an appropriate response is made rests with the original recipient. They could delegate this responsibility to the contact person if both mutually agree to do so. Urgent correspondence is to be responded to in approximately one week. Non-urgent correspondence is to be responded to in approximately one month.

Note:

If there are no interim committee responses to a communication within the timelines given, the original recipient responds (or the contact person) as agreed.