Parliament House, Spring Street
Australian Mental Health Human Rights and Law Reform Coalition
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Mental-Health-Human-Rights-and-...
We invite you, your Families, Carers, Friends and Colleagues to this protest and Memorial to commemorate the deaths of over 1000 people who died while under the protection, care and treatment of the State since 2006. These deaths are described as unexpected, unnatural or violent.
Join us on steps of Parliament House where we will 'Light a Thousand Candles' to commemorate these deaths. We will also hold 1 minute silence to remember those who have lost their lives.
We also demand a Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System. an Independent Investigation into Human Rights violations and an end to discrimination and service exclusion against Aboriginal people, people from the Stolen Generation and Forgotten Australians, Wards of the State, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Transexual and Intersex people, people experiencing Homelessness, Refugees and Prisoners experiencing Emotional and Spiritual Distress and given Psychiatric Labels.
' The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is the duty of the living to do it for them.' Lois McMaster Bujold
Leading Australian Aboriginal Mental Health and Human Rights Activists, people with the lived experience of Emotional and Spiritual Distress, members of the Stolen Generation and Forgotten Australians, ex Wards of the State, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Transexual and Intersex, Refugee and Prisoner Advocates and Human Rights Lawyers will be speaking including:
Robbie Thorpe,Koby Drake-James, Kelvin Onus King, Amanda Thorburn , David Webb, Jenny Elliot
Cheryl and Gary Hipworth, Greg Oke and more to be announced.
People will also speak about:
Excessive numbers of Deaths of Victorian Mental Health Consumers while under State Care and the archaic Mental Health Act 1986, Psychiatric Incarceration without Trial, need for the immediate appointment of a Mental Health Ombudsman, Complaint procedures and the need for the immediate establishment of a Whistle Blower mechanism and protection, Discrimination and Social exclusion against marginalized communities, Psychiatric Force (Assault) by Mental Health Professionals, Medical Experimentation, Coercion, Chemical/ Physical Restraint, Seclusion and the huge increases in the use of Electro Convulsive Therapy (Electric Shock Treatment) without informed consent on Youth, Adults and the Aged in Victorian Public and Private Mental Health facilities, the excessive and extensive use of Community Treatment Orders in Victoria, the Mental Health Review Board, Legal Representation and the conduct of MHRB Hearings, Disproportionate Force and the large numbers of shootings of people with a Psychiatric Labels by Victoria Police.
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT will be provided by World famous Aboriginal Musician Kutcha Edwards who will be singing his hit song " Is This What We Deserve? ". This song is the theme for this protest.
Amazing Australian Musician and Human Rights Activist Jake Hapeta will also be performing.
Please also go to http://light1000candles.org/ for more information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------