Bringing Reform to Mental Health - Citizens Commission on Human Rights

As part of their religious code, Scientologists pledge “to expose and help abolish any and all physically damaging practices in the field of mental health,” and thereby bring about an atmosphere of safety and security to mental healing.

Accordingly, in 1969, Scientologists established the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a watchdog group that investigates and exposes psychiatric violations of human rights. Today, CCHR is a worldwide force actively working to eliminate brutal treatments, criminal practices and human rights abuses in the field of mental health. It has been responsible for helping to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive practices in the field of mental health.

Working alongside medical professionals, CCHR is dedicated to eradicating abuse and enacting patient and consumer protections. CCHR’s Board of Advisers, called Commissioners, includes doctors, scientists, psychologists, lawyers, legislators, educators, business professionals, artists and civil and human rights representatives.

In the 1970s, the Church of Scientology exposed the existence of psychiatric work camps in South Africa where blacks were exploited as slave labourers and cooperation was enforced with electric shock. Those charges of abuse were investigated and confirmed by the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association. Subsequently, CCHR presented testimony to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and obtained a national government inquiry into psychiatric racism.

Working with like-minded groups and African tribal leaders, CCHR is continuing to fight for the rights of all Africans to be free from mental health abuses.

“I thank the Church of Scientology, particularly the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, for exposing the most horrendous practices of the apartheid system of mental treatment of people.… CCHR became a real thorn in the side of the apartheid government, and of course it was for the better for those who suffered from those conditions. So thank you very much.”

DR BEN NGUBANE, FORMER MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SOUTH AFRICA

HUMANITARIAN MISSION

BRINGING PSYCHIATRY UNDER THE LAW

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As a key element of its humanitarian mission to protect individuals from psychiatric abuses and to clean up the field of mental health, Citizens Commission on Human Rights members work vigorously to ensure that the legal system serves all citizens—including those caught in the undertow of psychiatry.

In that pursuit, CCHR has contributed to the passage of more than 160 laws in states across the United States and 16 nations. Legislation ranges from protecting children from psychotropic drugging, safeguarding the elderly from abusive treatment, stopping psychologists’ and psychiatrists’ sexual abuse of their patients, defending the rights of the disabled and mentally ill, and requiring psychiatric transparency as a safeguard against fraud and corruption. CCHR members have testified before the United States Congress and Parliaments in Japan, France, Holland, Germany, South Africa, Italy, and many more, steering legislation in the direction of defending dignity and saving lives.

“CCHR serves as a stellar example of the united power of individuals who achieve reform through dedicated efforts to better society and effective education and advocacy.”

“I join with Congress in recognizing the Citizens Commission on Human Rights for its longstanding commitment to advancing the fundamental freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Nuremberg Code. CCHR serves as a stellar example of the united power of individuals who achieve reform through dedicated efforts to better society and effective education and advocacy. We recognize CCHR for the many great reforms it has championed, which today protect individuals against cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and for its leadership role in raising public awareness so that dignity and human rights can be returned to all men.” —Member of U.S. Congress, California

CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS

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HUMANITARIAN MISSION

BRINGING PSYCHIATRY UNDER THE LAW

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