A/HRC/35/21
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
28 March 2017
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-fifth session
6-23 June 2017
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health
Note by the secretariat
Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 24/6, the secretariat has the honour to
transmit to the Council the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. In an attempt to
contribute to the discussion around mental health as a global health priority, the Special
Rapporteur focuses on the right of everyone to mental health and some of the core
challenges and opportunities, urging that the promotion of mental health be addressed for
all ages in all settings. He calls for a shift in the paradigm, based on the recurrence of
human rights violations in mental health settings, all too often affecting persons with
intellectual, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities.
The Special Rapporteur makes a number of recommendations for States and all
stakeholders to move towards mental health systems that are based on and compliant with
human rights.
GE.17-04875(E)