Conference overview

Context

The 2^nd International Conference on Intellectual Disabilities/Mental Retardation (ID/MR), held in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 6, 7, and 8, 2007, was the occasion for the launching of the first WHO Atlas on Country Resources in Intellectual Disabilities (Atlas-ID).

At the behest and with the co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), and given the interest of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) as well as the existence of several institutes on intellectual disabilities in this region, the decision was made to hold the 2^nd International Conference on ID/MR in November 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 2^nd International Conference on ID/MR is the continuation of the PAHO/WHO Montreal Conference on Intellectual Disability that was held on October 5 and 6, 2004. The most important outcome of this Conference was the Montreal Declaration on Intellectual Disabilities that was adopted and signed by 65 participants and representatives from 17 countries, mainly from the Americas and from major organizations defending the rights of individuals with intellectual disability.

The Montreal Declaration on Intellectual Disabilities would not have been possible without a major change in the evaluation of individuals with a disability. Moving away from a biomedical model, the international community now accepts that individuals with a disability are entitled to rights inherent to their human condition rather than holders of rights as a result of a disability. This constitutes a major paradigm shift and the basis of the work done by the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.

The UN Ad Hoc Committee has completed its work on a historic new human rights convention to protect persons with disabilities worldwide and the UN General Assembly has recently adopted the final text by acclamation. The new treaty is expected to take effect in 2008 or 2009 after the necessary minimum number of 20 ratifications has been reached. When in effect, this convention will require governments to create strong protections against discrimination for persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disability. This "first human rights treaty to be adopted in the twenty-first century" (Kofi Annan) recognizes the right for of persons with disabilities to be fully included in society, as equal citizens, and to participate in public life. Governments will have to take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services, including health-related rehabilitation.

Persons with intellectual disability fall under the scope of this convention and will benefit greatly from its coming into existence, as the respect and enforcement of the fundamental rights of persons with intellectual disability has yet to become a reality in most parts of the world. In this perspective, the Montreal Declaration on Intellectual Disabilities established consensual standards related to the right to equality of persons with intellectual disability, as well as a series of measures to be undertaken in order to support decision-making among persons with intellectually disability within a context of respect for their fundamental rights.

Another follow-up to the Montreal Conference on Intellectual Disabilities of 2004 is the creation of a WHO Atlas on Country Resources in Intellectual Disabilities (Atlas-ID). In 2000, the WHO began the "Project Atlas" to collect, compile and disseminate data on some of the most important mental health issues and how they are addressed by all countries of the world. During the last two years, the Atlas-ID has been developed to present global data in this area and to act as a catalyst to advocacy and planning efforts. The Atlas-ID was launched in Bangkok, during the 2^nd International Conference on Intellectual Disabilities/Mental Retardation.

Objectives of the Conference

Review the current state of intellectual disabilities in each WHO Region;
Launch the WHO Atlas on Country Resources in Intellectual Disabilities;
Discuss ways to implement and strengthen initiatives regarding intellectual disabilities within WHO Regions and their Member States;
Build on the UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities as well as the WHO Atlas on Country Resources on Intellectual Disabilities in order to further the international awareness on supports for persons with intellectual disability;
Promote the right to health for persons with intellectual disability.

Participants

Participants were from various backgrounds:

delegates of the WHO Headquarters in Geneva and from each of the WHO regions;
members from NGOs and international organizations;
self-advocates;
families of persons with intellectual disabilities;
professionals who work in the intellectual disabilities field;
government representatives;
experts and researchers in the field of intellectual disabilities;
experts and advocates in human rights;
members of civil society and from the media.

Conference Format

The meeting was planned for three full days, respectively labeled "Right to Health", "Resources" and "Road Maps". The general format of the conference was centred on plenary sessions (keynote lectures, group presentations, panels), and thematic workshops. A poster session emphasized current, innovative and low-cost initiatives. Through the keynote allocutions, the panels, the workshops and the poster session, the Bangkok Conference aimed to be a forum where each participant had the opportunity to engage in discussions, exchange perspectives and plan for action.

Prior to the conference, participants received relevant material (results from the Atlas-ID Project, summary of key issues, relevant references, etc.) in order to allow them to prepare adequately.

The official language of the conference was English.