This report was written by Jolijn Santegoeds, Founder of Stitching Mind Rights and organizer of the protest. Edited by Stephanie Wooley.
Protest in Utrecht on 6 May 2017
A protest march against coercion in psychiatry was held in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Saturday afternoon, 6 May 2017. The protest was organized by Mind Rights, Enik Recovery College and Mad Pride Nederland. A colorful group of almost a hundred people drew attention with brightly colored banners and calling out protest slogans such as “Prohibit coercion in mental health care. Coercion doesn’t lead to wellbeing. Care is attention”. The group also handed out leaflets explaining why coercion doesn’t belong in health care, and information about human rights.
Against Dutch law reform on “Mandatory Mental Health Care”
The protest in Utrecht was dedicated against coercion in mental health care, and especially also against the law proposals which facilitate coercion. “These law proposals expand the options to use force. But using force isn’t helping. In fact it is making things worse. So prohibit coercion, and arrange good care”, says the organizer of the protest, Jolijn Santegoeds, who is an expert by experience.
Remembrance
During the protest, the group stopped at the Resistance Monument at the Dom for a remembrance of the people who suffered under psychiatry, both then and now. Flowers were laid, and Martijn Kole of Enik Recovery College gave a beautiful speech “Freedom is our greatest gift, and maybe that in the context of freedom, our voices will be heard, and nobody’s voice will be lost”.
Message to the Dutch Senate
The colorful group continued their round through the city of Utrecht, and ended at Mariaplaats, where Member of Senate Marleen Barth (PvdA) had arrived to receive the protest-message of the group. Initiator Jolijn Santegoeds summarized the protest-message: “We know from experience that coercion doesn’t contribute to wellbeing. And the United Nations human rights treaty on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also clearly states that a need for support cannot be a ground for deprivation of liberty, so nobody should lose any rights at the moment when they need support. We see that the law proposal on Mandatory Mental Health Care is in violation of these human rights, and we ask to stop this law proposal”.
Marleen Barth said: “I have known Jolijn for years, and it’s important that this signal is picked up. I came especially to listen. I don’t have an opinion yet, but I am reading the law proposals. There is a package of half a metre of paper on my desk. There will be an expert meeting first, for which Jolijn has also been invited, and then the Senate will ask questions to the cabinet”.
Successful action
It was a successful protest. We stood up for our rights, and made ourselves seen and heard.
The protest led to more attention to this subject.
TV-interview on 5 May
On 5 May, national Liberation Day in the Netherlands, a TV report on coercion in mental health care was broadcast on channel 2 at 18.30 (Hallo Nederland, Omroep Max), with an interview with expert by experience, Jolijn Santegoeds about the protest in Utrecht. Also care-specialist Yolande Voskes affirmed that coercion can be banned by realizing good care.
See the TV report here (The report starts after about 5 minutes): https://www.omroepmax.nl/
Also, a video-impression (vlog) on the protest against coercion in mental healthcare on 6 May, has been made by Rogier Hop, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Pictures of the protest can be found at the Dutch blog of Jolijn Santegoeds https://tekeertegendeisoleer.
All pictures and information will be collected at the Dutch website dedicated to this campaign: www.ggzleed.nl