Georgia: Steps for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Stigma and discrimination against people with mental disorders are the most significant problems in mental health. The distinct types of stigmatizations are still common in many countries, including the former Soviet Union countries, which leads to human rights violations. Historically, using psychiatry as a means of repression has been reported in various countries, and most recently, well described in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and allied countries. Psychiatric incarceration and involuntary treatment were used against the “unreliable” individuals who opposed the social or political situation in the country. The “concept of sluggish schizophrenia” developed by the Moscow School of Psychiatry provided a handy framework to explain this behavior. Substantial reforms in mental health care and legislation are essential for ensuring improved care for people with mental disorders in mental health services and for treating them with dignity and respect. The significant steps in promoting the human rights of people with disabilities in Georgia were the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2014 and the adoption of the mental health strategic plan 2022–2030, which is in line with the principles defined by the CRPD.