Events

Event 5: EDF, Brussels, Belgium 9th – 13th May 2022

Public Day: Thursday 12 May 2022

Venue: EU Thon Hotel, Brussels

Conference Title: Exploring Voice, Power and Change

Programme

The Marie Skłodowska–Curie Innovative Training Network DARE (Disability Advocacy Research in Europe) organised a conference to showcase the findings of the 14 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) / PhD candidates employed in the Network. The conference provided the opportunity to establish contacts and collaborations with the ESRs and explore how their findings can impact policy in the future.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Gerard Quinn, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on: Lessons for the Next Generation of Disability Researchers.

The 14 ESRs presented their findings and interacted with invited respondents and conference participants in sessions as follows:

Please refer to the programme for the list of respondents.

Further information about the DARE Network: 

The DARE Project is co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway, with the collaboration of seven partner institutions: the Institute for Social and Political Sciences (Portugal), Maastricht University (Netherlands), University of Leeds (UK), the European Disability Forum, the University of Iceland and Swiss Paraplegic Research. You can find out more about the Network here.

Event 1: University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway) Ireland 29th October – 1st November 2019

DARE Public Day – 31st October 2019

Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (DARE), a Marie Curie Initial Training Network is funded by the European Commission and co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway. The aim of the DARE network is to train a new generation of disability scholars and policy specialists, who work on the implementation of different aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities across Europe. The 15 Early Stage Researchers recruited through DARE and their academic supervisors participated in the conference, which addressed the core purpose of the DARE project – to give legitimacy, through research, to the lived experience of persons with disabilities as a basis for law reform. The conference focused on three global challenges facing persons with disabilities and policy-makers 1) the voices of persons with disabilities 2) the power structures that impact on their lives and 3) the social movements required to bring about sustainable policy change.

This event was held in the Aran Suite, Salthill hotel, Salthill, Galway on Thursday 31st October 2019. You can now view the full day event by clicking here.

Event 2: ISCSP, Lisbon, Portugal, 17th February – 20th February 2020

DARE Public Day – 20 February 2020

Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (DARE), a Marie Curie Initial Training Network funded by the European Commission and co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway. The aim of the DARE network is to train a new generation of disability scholars and policy specialists, who work on the implementation of different aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities across Europe. The Early Stage Researchers recruited through DARE and their academic supervisors participated in the conference, which addressed the core purpose of the DARE project – to give legitimacy, through research, to the lived experience of persons with disabilities as a basis for law reform.

The conference featured Alberto Vasquez, Research Coordinator in the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur for Disability, who will present on Disability Studies, Human Rights and Disability Law – an Agenda for Research. The conference also encompassed three Round Tables, which addressed the following topics: 1) Research collaborations in disability research 2) Interdisciplinary research in disability and 3) Ethics in participatory and emancipatory research. The event was held at Room Lisboa, ISCSP, University of Lisboa.

This event is now available to view under the following headings:

Introduction and Panel 1

Panel 2: Ethics and Emancipatory Research

Panel 3: Interdisciplinary Research in Disability

Panel 4: Research Collaborations

Event 3: University of Leeds, 29th June – 3rd July 2020 and Thursday 29th October 2020

The virtual public event was held on Thursday, 29th October 2020

Disability Research and Evidence based Policy

Time: 10:00-12:00 (UK/Ireland)

This virtual session focused on engagements between researchers, disability advocates and government actors. Non-academic partners took a leading role in the training and shared their experiences of using evidence to influence change at national, regional or international levels. The ESRs interacted with members of the project’s International Panel of Public Policy & Disability Experts, who have been prominent agents of social change. The event promoted the value of researcher engagement in policy networks and advocacy coalitions for reform.

Panelists:

  • Catalina Devandas-Aguilar (former UN Special Rapporteur)
  • Prof Theresia Degener (former Chair UN CRPD Committee)
  • Elena Schubert (Policy Officer at the Disability and Inclusion Unit of the European Commission)
  • Dr. Marc Verlot (Head of Evidence and Insight, Disability Unit, UK Government)

Focus:

  • How can academic researchers influence disability policy development and reform?
  • What kinds of research findings, data or evidence are most useful to policy makers?
  • What are the pros and cons of engaging with academic researchers, from a policy perspective?
  • What do academic researchers need to know about policy evidence and policy making?

This discussion will be chaired by Professor Mark Priestley (University of Leeds).

The panel session is now available to view here.

Event 4: University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway), Thursday, 20th May 2021

Time: 10.00 – 12.00 (Ireland/UK)

Engaging with the CRPD Committee

This webinar was organised to help DPOs, NGOs and disability researchers to understand how to engage with the CRPD Committee in a variety of ways – through the dialogue with States, the Committee sessions, the individual complaints process under the Optional Protocol, etc. Speakers included current and former members of the UN Committee, lawyers and activists who have taken case before the CRPD Committee and participated in the dialogue between the Committee and States Parties.

Panelists:

• Prof Jonas Ruskus, Professor at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania and Vice-chair of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations

• Prof Theresia Degener, former Chair UN CRPD Committee

• Dr. Janos Fiala-Butora, Lecturer in International Disability Law, University of Galway and Human Rights Lawyer

• Dragana Ciric Milovanovic, Disability Rights International, Director of the Europe Regional Office London United Kingdom (UK).

This discussion was chaired by Hanxu Liu, Early Stage Researcher, DARE Project.

The session is now available to view here.