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Description
“Wings of Change” aims to respond to complex and systemic problems related to human rights abuses and discriminatory attitudes towards people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. The Ministry of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania have been carrying out a reform aimed at deinstitutionalization since 2014. However, there has been a lack of investments into awareness raising activities about the right of people with disabilities to live in the community (UNCRPD, Art.19). Societal attitudes need to become more open, inclusive and respectful of diversity.
This project aims to foster this change through awareness raising campaigns and mental health literacy trainings for leaders of regional communities. Additionally, through raising competencies of professionals at social care services, e.g., at Group Living Homes. This would be done systematically, using the WHO ‘QualityRights’ toolkit: an evaluation of human rights standards and quality of care, comprehensive analysis and development of recommendations, as well as trainings and supervision of staff. Thirdly, decision makers would be made aware of problems identified and offered potential solutions for improvement on the municipal and national level. The media would also be empowered to inform the public about related topics in an ethical way, in line with human rights standards. Whilst working in parallel with all these groups, the rights of people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities would be better protected. It would increase the quality of their lives and services they receive, thus, stimulating the broader development of society and its support for human rights. A special emphasis on the regional action would strengthen Lithuanian civil society; at the same time the project would provide an opportunity for sharing good international practice examples, whilst collaborating with Norwegian partners.
Summary of project results
The ‘Wings of Change’ project aimed to address a complex human rights issue related to the social care system and discriminatory attitudes of society towards intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. The Ministry of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania have been carrying out a reform aimed at deinstitutionalization since 2014. However, there has been a lack of investments into awareness raising activities about the right of people with disabilities to live in the community. The aim of this project was to make societal attitudes more open, inclusive and to contribute to the human rights of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities in the regions of Lithuania. This was achieved firstly through educational activities and campaigns in the regional communities, in particular by investing in mental health literacy trainings and by organising communal events with people with disabilities. Secondly, competences of social service professionals were raised by doing evaluation of human rights standards and quality of care in three Group Living Homes, using WHO ‘QualityRights’ toolkit. Based on the results, the professionals were provided with the missing knowledge and skills through targeted training. Thirdly, regional and national media was provided with guidelines and training, ensuring that the project themes are communicated in an ethical and human rightsbased manner in the public sphere. Decision-makers at ministerial and municipal level were informed about the results of the project and possible solutions to the problems at systemic level. Working in parallel with all these target groups, and drawing on the good practices of the Norwegian partners, a comprehensive contribution was made to the overall promotion of human rights, and in particular the ability of persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities to live a full life in the community, to access quality services and to contribute to the full growth and development of society.
Summary of bilateral results
Partners from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction at the University Hospital of Northern Norway in Troms, Norway, Non-medication Treatment department strongly contributed to one of the activities - a video was created and made public, which shows their good practice, history of creation and main ideas. The expert input of the partners is very valuable both within this project and after its completion. A document describing their good practice is also important having long-term value for future reference in terms of the possible development of new services that meet human rights standards. This good practice document presenting content in an attractive and interactive form such as video makes it more accessible to the general public, can be used and presented in various contexts. Using the material created by the partners outside the project undoubtedly strengthens the bilateral partnership when the specialists are in Lithuania and helps to inform and train them about the advanced good practices of partners, which will help to create a connection between the specialists of the two countries and speed up the development of services in Lithuania.