Capacity-building
We build the capacity of individuals who are crucial in implementing human rights and provoking others to do so.
What is capacity-building?
Capacity-building means providing technical assistance to others. MDAC offers capacity-building to a variety of people who are key to the promotion and protection of human rights of people with disabilities. Capacity-building includes educational seminars, summer schools and other courses.
Why does MDAC do capacity-building?
Our capacity-building aims to strengthen and develop human and institutional capability. It aims to develop attitudes, skills and knowledge. The reason MDAC as a legal advocacy organisation carries out capacity-building is that some of the key people responsible for implementing human rights do not have access to information and skills which would enable them to effectively participate in policy-making on an equal basis with others.
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.
In summer 2010 MDAC carried out the first two-week summer school on ‘mental disability law in practice’. Through presentations, moot court, a site visit, interviewing 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.
How does MDAC do capacity-building?
Our target groups for capacity building are:
- non-governmental sector including organisations of people with disabilities;
- policy-makers including legislators and civil servants;
- national human rights structures, including detention monitoring bodies; and
- litigators, lawyers and judges.
All of these groups of people have an essential role to play in implementing international human rights law for people with disabilities, and monitoring such implementation.
Since 2010, we have run a two-week summer school at the Central European University, on “Mental disability law in practice”.
