Egypt: Implementation of the CRPD in Mental Health Care

Abstract

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified by 185 states parties till 2022. Interpretative declaration was made by Egypt on the fourth of April 2007, and the CRPD was formally confirmed, and ratified on the 14th of April 2008. Egypt is proceeding steadily in integrating people with disabilities including people with long term mental impairments in the society. The Code of Practice of the Mental Health Act was developed in 2009 and refined in 2011, with full implementation of mental health legislation. Egypt leads the Arab countries in creating the law and fully implementing it. In the last few years, the Egyptian government is giving the priority to people with disabilities including people with mental illness to provide the best care. This is manifested in issuing a medical card for persons with disabilities as part of accessing many free services including healthcare, rehabilitation services, employment support and the integration of children with special needs in school and university education particularly children with mental disability, autism, ADHD, and learning disorders.