Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill Written Evidence


DDB 125 Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

22 March 2004

Jennifer Smookier

Committee Specialist

Committee Office

House of Lords

Millbank House

London

SWIA OPW

Dear Ms Smookler

Re - The Draft Disability Discrimination Bill 2003

Please accept my apologies for the delay in getting our response to you, I have unfortunately been off sick.

The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance welcomes this opportunity to comment on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill. As the national Advocacy membership organisation for Scotland we support all the advocacy organisations in Scotland and help them deliver high quality advocacy to vulnerable individuals.

As the Joint Committee may be aware, advocacy is mentioned in the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Both the Advocacy and Service User movements in Scotland welcomed this development in the legislation. We felt that it was a move that was long overdue and would ultimately help Mental Health services to carry out their duties whilst ensuring the human rights of the individual. Therefore the SIAA would urge the Joint Committee to consider the inclusion of Independent Advocacy in the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill. Independent Advocacy organisations play an important role in addressing the discrimination, inequality and stigma faced by individuals with a disability. The Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on Local Authorities and Health Boards to secure independent advocacy which means that vulnerable people with a mental illness will have access to an independent advocate. The SIAA would strongly urge the Joint Committee consider such a measure for other people with a disability.


A large proportion of our members support individuals with a mental illness we feel that this group should be recognised under the Disability Discrimination Bill.

Please find enclosed copies of our publicity leaflets for your information. We would be pleased to provide the Joint Committee with any further information should it be required.

Yours sincerely,



Shaben Begum

Director

Encs.





 
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