Wereldwijd Handvest Eetstoornissen
Eerste wereldwijde handvest voor de erkenning en gerichte behandeling van eetstoornissen (Worldwide charter for action on Eating Disorders)
Het eerste wereldwijde handvest dat gerichte behandeling van eetstoornissen bepleit, werd op 7 juni 2006, tijdens de internationale conferentie over eetstoornissen van de Academy for Eating Disorders in Barcelona gepresenteerd en getekend.
Het handvest zet de rechten en verwachtingen die mensen met een eetstoornis en hun familie ten aanzien van de zorg (mogen) hebben uiteen (zowel inhoudelijk als praktisch).
1.730 mensen uit 46 landen namen hiervoor deel aan een onderzoek via internet. Hun antwoorden werden door vooraanstaande inhoudsdeskundigen op het gebied van eetstoornissen geanalyseerd. Daarnaast zijn de patiëntenorganisaties en zorginstellingen (waaronder Centrum Eetstoornissen Ursula) van drie continenten betrokken bij het opstellen van het handvest.
President van de Academy for Eating Disorders (tevens directeur behandelzaken van Centrum Eetstoornissen Ursula) Eric van Furth licht toe: ‘Dit is het grootste onderzoek onder patiënten, familieleden en behandelaars van eetstoornissen dat ooit heeft plaatsgevonden. De resultaten ervan brengen belangrijke zaken die wereldwijd gelden aan het licht. Deze zijn in dit handvest opgenomen.’
Regeringen, beleidsmakers, behandelaars en opinieleiders uit de hele wereld zullen worden aangemoedigd om het handvest te ondertekenen en bij te dragen aan de in het handvest genoemde activiteiten.
Gráinne Smith, voorzitter van North East Eating Disorder Support Scotland, stelt: ‘Het onderzoek laat onder andere zien hoe vele mensen wereldwijd nog steeds moeten vechten om voor hun eetstoornis behandeld te worden. Zij moeten niet alleen hun eetstoornis, maar vooral ook de onbekendheid met deze levensbedreigende aandoening zien te overwinnen’
Klik hier voor het Wereldwijd Handvest Eetstoonissen
The World Wide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders, the AED-sponsored patient/carer bill of rights, continues to be introduced in regions around the world through formal launch and implementation activities. The Charter is now printed in English, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Portugese, and German with other translations to be available over the next few months. Over 270 individuals and organizations have signed on in support of the Charter through the AED website. Other organizations around the world are gathering their own lists of signatories. To sign on in support of the Charter go to www.aedweb.org and click on the link to the Charter.
Recent launch/implementation activities include:
• Germany/Austria
A German version of the Charter produced by Günther Rathner and colleagues was presented at the German speaking congress in Alpbach, receiving a positive response by the 250 delegates in attendance. The Austrian Eating Disorders Organisation is working to collect signatures for the Charter on their home page and in their offices. Next they plan to meet with their politicians and insurance representatives to disseminate the charter and to discuss how various aspects of the Charter might be financed.
• Netherlands
A Dutch translation of the Charter was recently launched by AED President Eric van Furth and AED Patient/Carer Task Force member Eric Vleeschdraager of Stichting Anorexia en Boulimia Nervosa (SABN) at a meeting of the Netherlands Academy for Eating Disorders. SABN is also working to distribute copies of the Charter throughout the Netherlands.
• Sweden
The Swedish professional eating disorder organization, Riksforeningen Anorexi/Bulimi-Kontakt (RABK) will translate the Charter and distribute it throughout Sweden by May 2007. Patient/Carer Task Force member and RABK representative, Gisela van der Ster, will work with the Nordic Eating Disorders Association to translate the Charter into Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic and Finnish.
• UK
The Charter was launched in Great Britain by the Eating Disorders Association UK
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Eating Disorders Special Interest group has agreed to endorse the Charter. The Charter was also introduced at a Scottish eating disorders conference in Aberdeen at the end of November.
• Japan
The Eating Disorders Network of Japan (EDNJ) will hold the 6th Eating Disorders Festival in Osaka, Japan on December 3, 2006. The theme of the conference is Let"s Think about Collaboration with Professionals Together! The Japanese translation of the Charter will be made available to conference attendees. The EDNJ now offers an English
version of their website at http://ednetwork.jp/english/.
• USA
In partnership with the Eating Disorders Coalition, the AED hosted a press conference to launch the Charter in the United States. Sponsored by Representative Mary Bono of California, the press conference featured talks by Bono, Representative Jim Ramstad (Minnesota) and Representative Patrick Kennedy (Rhode Island) along with Kitty Westin, Anna Westin Foundation, Deb Melk, survivor and activist, Jeanine Cogan, Eating Disorders Coalition Policy Director, Kelly Klump, AED President Elect, and Judith Banker, AED Treasurer. Attended by nearly 100 people the press conference also was held to generate support for the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT), important new legislation that promotes the goals of the Charter. Regional U.S. Charter events include a November launch held in North Carolina through the support of the University of North Carolina and a presentation of the Charter at a New York State Insurance Round Table in December.
Charter listserv now available!
Anyone interested in participating in online discussion and networking around World Wide Charter launch and implementation activities is welcome to join the Charter listserv sponsored by the AED. To join the listserv contact listserv moderator Laura Collins at laura@eatingwithyouranorxic.com