Harry Minas
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
The legal basis for protection of the human rights of persons with mental illness in Indonesia is now well developed. It includes Indonesia’s ratification of relevant UN instruments, passage of relevant laws, and the National Human Rights Commission. Despite this, the development of effective responses to mental disorder continues to be a low priority, as demonstrated by weak mental health governance arrangements, insufficient investment, shortage of skilled mental health professionals, inadequate facilities, and inadequate information systems and research capabilities. Continuing abuse of human rights is an important consequence of these deficiencies. The most widely known form of abuse of human rights is pasung, the restraint and confinement of person with severe and persistent mental disorders in the home by families and in a variety of social and religious institutions.
This presentation will focus on an informal institution in Kebumen known as Mbah Marsiyo’s House and the efforts of the local District Government to institute to develop more appropriate mental health, rehabilitation, and social services for people with severe and persistent mental disorders.
Biography: To come