The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida will host the 9th Annual Humanitarian Awards Banquet on Sunday, November 8th, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the historic Fort Harrison in downtown Clearwater. The event celebrates dedicated volunteers and community partners who work to advance human rights and improve mental health practices throughout Florida.
This year's ceremony will honor attorney Paul Figueroa as the 2025 CCHR Florida Humanitarian Award Winner and Father Bob Swick as the 2025 CCHR Florida Lifetime Achievement Awardee. The Humanitarian Awards Banquet recognizes individuals and organizations for their commitment to safeguarding basic freedoms and restoring dignity in mental health care. Attendees will enjoy a banquet dinner and live musical performance during this community celebration of achievements in human rights advocacy.
Diane Stein, President of CCHR Florida, emphasized the organization's mission to restore and secure basic freedoms and rights, particularly for future generations. This event highlights the significant work being done to ensure legal protection for all Floridians, with special focus on reforming mental health legislation and preventing abuse in psychiatric practices.
CCHR Florida maintains active public service programs that educate citizens about their legal rights, expose abuses in mental health treatment, and collaborate with lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms. The organization has gained recognition for its advocacy work surrounding Florida's Baker Act, specifically efforts to reduce involuntary psychiatric examinations and promote more humane and transparent processes in mental health care.
The organization's broader mission, as detailed on their website https://www.cchr.org, focuses on eradicating abuses committed under the guise of mental health treatment and establishing stronger patient and consumer protections. Founded in 1969 through collaboration between the Church of Scientology and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz, CCHR works to address concerns about psychiatric practices that may infringe upon individual rights and freedoms.
This annual event serves as both recognition of past achievements and motivation for continued progress in human rights advocacy. By bringing together volunteers, community partners, and concerned citizens, the banquet strengthens the network of individuals committed to ensuring dignity and proper legal protections within mental health care systems. The celebration underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and advocacy in protecting fundamental human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations affected by mental health legislation and practices.
