Capacity-building

We build the capacity of individuals and organisations who are crucial in implementing human rights, as well those which play a watchdog role.

What is capacity-building?

Capacity-building means providing training, technology and other ways to increase the skills, knowledge, ability and effectiveness of others. MDAC offers capacity-building to a variety of individuals and organisations who are key to the promotion and protection of human rights of people with disabilities. Our capacity-building work is participatory and inclusive, and includes seminars, workshops, and our annual summer school.

How can MDAC build my or my organisation’s capacity ? 

MDAC people are some of the world’s leading experts in the fields of human rights of people with disability; mental health law; strategic litigation; human rights advocacy; and qualitative research. MDAC’s Board members and staff are available as guest speakers for events, consultants or contributors to litigation and advocacy projects around the world. If you would like MDAC’s involvement in this way, please send an email to mdac@mdac.org.

What is MDAC’s track record?

In 2012, MDAC built the capacity of individuals and organisations such as NGOs, disabled people’s organisations, independent inspectorates, ombudsman’s offices, government departments, academia and parents of people with disabilities. We worked on themes such as torture and ill-treatment, detention monitoring, and legal capacity, in countries including Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine. Our 2012 Summer School had participants representing 14 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Who does MDAC help with capacity-building?

Our target groups for capacity building are:  

1. the non-governmental sector including organisations of people with disabilities;
2. policy-makers including legislators and civil servants;
3. national human rights structures, including detention monitoring bodies; and
4. litigators, lawyers and judges.

All of these have an essential role to play in implementing international human rights law for people with disabilities, and monitoring such implementation.

Why does MDAC do capacity-building?

We know that some of the key people and organisations responsible for implementing human rights do not have access to information and skills which would enable them to effectively do their jobs. Their work is crucial to MDAC achieving its mission of advancing human rights. Through capacity-building, the impact of MDAC’s work is more effective. Also, by working at grassroots level to engage, empower and train people with disabilities themselves to fight for their own rights, we play an important part in enabling people with disabilities to become the agents for their own change.

How does MDAC build capacity?

MDAC carries out capacity-building through training events whose hallmarks are that they are dynamic and interactive, involve participatory group work with a variety of different exercises sequencing small theoretical blocks. MDAC also holds workshops, roundtable events and provides formal presentations. These are tailored to participants and projects. Every summer since 2010, MDAC has carried out a two-week Summer School on ‘“Mental Disability Law in Practice” at the Central European University. Through presentations, group work, advocacy exercises, role plays and small group work the summer school strengthens the professional development of practising lawyers, activists and academics in the field of mental health and disability rights law.