Who We Are?

The Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry (FGIP) goes back to 1980 when it started as a volunteer human rights organization with the goal to end the incarceration of dissidents in psychiatric hospitals under the name International Association on the Political Use of Psychiatry (IAPUP).

Over the years, the FGIP has developed a large network of contacts, allies and friends all around the word that are close to its cause to promote human and ethical mental health care for all. Thanks to this network of individuals from the health and from the legal profession, bureaucrats, national and international policy makers, opinion makers, donors and persons with lived experiences, the FGIP was able to stay a lean and highly flexible organization and to continuously adapt its identity and work to sustainably protect the rights of those living with mental health challenges, first in Central & Eastern Europe, and then globally.

Today, 45 years later, the FGIP serves as umbrella organization for its independent member organizations , with its own focus and program. Each of its members are pursuing their own missions to bring ethical and humane mental health care to those who receive, and those who deliver.

The federation itself has placed the upholding of human rights in the mental health sector for underserved communities, such as victims of state repression (such as human rights defenders, activists) and war (civilians and the military) or people living in closed environments (such as prisons or detention centers) and their immediate surroundings in the center of its work. We fill the gap in areas and for people who have nobody else to stand up for their rights.

Our values

Everything we do is based on the deeply enshrined values of the FGIP and all its member organizations. They are guided by the principle that all people have dignity by themselves regardless of their capacity:

RESPECT

We acknowledge the inherent worth and dignity of every individual.

TRUST

We believe in the reliability, integrity, and competence of individuals involved in promoting mental health related human rights and care.

INCLUSION

We advocate for equitable access, participation, and representation of all individuals in decision-making processes and society at large and we ourselves always include people with lived experience in our work.

HUMANITY

We recognize and honor the fundamental rights, needs, and dignity of every person and are grounded in empathy and compassion.

FRIENDSHIP

We build genuine connections and supportive relationships within FGIP that provide comfort, understanding, and encouragement to those involved, fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity.

ANTI-TOTALITARIANISM

We advocate against oppressive and coercive practices that infringe upon the rights, autonomy, and dignity of concerned individuals, promoting democratic and participatory approaches instead.

Our Team

Our core team consists of a group of engaged individuals who are deeply committed to the fulfillment of our mission and the accomplishment of our vision. They are supported by a large number of volunteers and allies without whom the FGIP would not be the organization it is today, including the Directors of the FGIP member organisations.

Robert van Voren – Chief Executive
Greta Mozeikaite – Event Coordinator & Communication Assistant