In this e-learning course participants will be introduced to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The course will examine the principles of the Convention and the state obligations to implement it. Substantive rights will be addressed and these include the right to legal capacity, the right to live in the community and the right to political participation. Participants will be encouraged to assess how the CRPD embodies an approach which views disability as a social construct, and ensures that the rights of people with disabilities are respected, protected and fulfilled on an equal basis with others.
Course outline
Week 1. History and introduction to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Week 2. Principles and state obligations Week 3. Right to legal capacity Week 4. Right to live in the community Week 5. Right to political participation Week 6. Monitoring implementation
About the instructor
Oliver Lewis is the Executive Director of the Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) in Budapest (Hungary). He is a member of the Bar of England and Wales and is an Associate Member of the human rights barristers' set Doughty Street Chambers, London. Mr. Lewis has been a Visiting Professor at the Legal Studies Department, Central European University in Budapest since 2002, where he teaches a course entitled "Mental Disability Law and Advocacy" to postgraduate human rights students. He is also a Fellow at CEU’s Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine. Oliver has given lectures and presentations at several universities around the world, and is a faculty member of the International Diploma on Mental Health Law and Human Rights, run by the Indian Law Society in Pune (India), in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Oliver has previously worked at the UK’s Department of Health as a research assistant on mental health law reform. He holds an LLB(Hons) in Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), an MA in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College, London, and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Open University Business School.
Who should apply
The course is intended for staff members of domestic human rights NGOs, staff and members of disabled people’s organisations and staff of national human rights institutions and/or Ombudsman offices. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants.
Costs
The course tuition fee is US$ 435. Tuition for auditors is US$ 165. Unfortunately, there are no scholarships or discounted tuition fees available for this course.
Application
The deadline for applications is 1 September 2011. Successful applicants will be notified by 7 September at the latest. Tuition payments are due by 1 October 2011.
