The Declaration of the Freedom of Mind, issued by the World Mental Health Coalition (https://worldmhc.org/declaration-of-the-freedom-of-mind), articulates freedom of mind in a written declaration for the first time. As such, it opens up exciting new ways to promote freedom of mind as a human right, including the prospect of proposing the Declaration to the United Nations for adoption.

The World Mental Health Coalition is seeking to identify a political and legal pathway for freedom of mind to enter into the international human rights architecture. Matt Bywater is assisting the World Mental Health Coalition with this project. He has presented at the XXXVII^th International Congress on Law and Mental Health and at the 2023 International Cultic Studies Association conference. He is currently working on a long-form academic journal article titled ‘A Human Right to the Freedom of Mind’ that will detail the history behind the freedom of mind, outline the core tenets of this human right and set out a preliminary roadmap for the future development of this right.

He has been undertaking a literature review, with a view to undertaking doctoral-level research that will entail:

1) Examining how previous human rights became established in history, in particular how multi-national coalitions successfully negotiated international human rights texts, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights.

2) Articulating the theoretical concept of freedom of mind, in particular developing a legal basis within the context of international human rights law. This effort is aimed at ensuring that the freedom of mind is solid in its foundations as a right and thereby able to defend itself against any opposing arguments.                                                           

3) Exploring strategies to:

1. a) help form and facilitate a global consensus on the definition and scope of the right to freedom of mind, including the legitimate limits to applying this right;
2. b) popularize freedom of mind as a human right at the level of society. Individuals must be well-informed about their rights in order to advocate for them effectively. Accordingly, this research will examine ways to raise awareness and understanding of freedom of mind as a fundamental human right among different social groups.

We are currently looking for an academic institution and supervisor with a background in international human rights law to oversee this proposed doctoral research and activist project. If you are able to offer us any advice or assistance with this endeavor, please reach out to us at: [email protected] or [email protected].