The promotion of mental health and prevention of mental and behavioural disorders must include a recognition of the fundamental rights of all people, all citizens.  Millions of people around the world are exposed to serious violations of human rights.  This could be child abuse and neglect, violence in the family or in the community, sexual exploitation, assault and rape, and living in war zones.  Lack of access to education and living in poverty are also conditions that violate human rights.  Exposure to such conditions can result in a long-lasting decrease in resilience and an increase in psychiatric vulnerability.  This is also true for people with mental illness who are neglected and abused. 

Most of the countries in the world have ratified the UN Convention on Human Rights, and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  Human rights must be used as an important tool for stimulating promotion and prevention in mental health and should be incorporated in national policies, legislation and mental health services in all countries.  Human rights can be effectively defended through coalition building and collaboration among those working in the mental health field and human rights advocates and organizations.