A major strand of our work in the field of non-discrimination and equality is the multi-annual and multi-country EU-wide networks, established and coordinated by Human European Consultancy for the European Commission. These are the Academic Network of European Disability Experts (ANED), managed with the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds, and the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination law, managed with the Migration Policy Group and the University of Utrecht. Over the years, these networks have continually produced ground-breaking national, comparative, synthesis and thematic reports.
Projects
The assignment entailed provision of expertise to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sudan on monitoring the implementation by Dutch and Sudanese partners of various projects relating to the rule of law. The topic of the projects monitored was the provision of training in international law to Sudanese judges and prosecutors, Ministry of Justice staff and diplomats and Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff.
This mapping study analysed measures in the EU Member States which already existed for the different grounds of discrimination in fields where Community legislation had not yet been introduced, such as social protection, social services and benefits, education, and access to and supply of goods and services. Existing impact assessment studies were analysed as well.
The purpose of the project was to provide NGOs and trade unions with information about EU and national anti-discrimination legislation, civil and social dialogue and their role and to provide employers’ organisations, business leaders and company representatives with knowledge about the opportunities and challenges of diversity management and practices as well as concrete tools. Trainers were trained and seminars were organised in 27 EU Member States and in Iceland, Norway and Turkey.
The purpose of the assignment was to support Sida at the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi in a mid-term assessment of the contribution of development cooperation to the democracy and human rights situation in Vietnam, measured by indicators based on international human rights standards. Three joint Swedish/Sida-Vietnamese working groups on health, decentralisation and the legal sector were assisted in identifying appropriate sets of rights and indicators to be achieved and setting the terms of reference for three sectoral evaluations. These sectoral evaluations formed the basis for the synthesis report .
A training programme was developed to support civil society in the target countries in building capacity and improving NGO knowledge of EU policies and the role of civil society in relation to the anti-discrimination directives and their national implementation. Train the trainers seminars were organised as well national training seminars in each of the countries.
About our projects
Research
Our research is geared to providing policy-relevant and evidence-based information and analysis that supports respect for and protection of internationally recognised human rights. For example, for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) we have conducted research on access to justice in discrimination cases in the EU and undertaken a study of data collection on the social situation of people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems. Through FRA’s research network, FRALEX, we provided reports at the international and EU level and for more than 20 EU Member States on a wide range of topics, such as child trafficking, homophobia, data protection and national human rights institutions. Within the framework of the FRALEX successor, FRANET, we have produced reports on the principle of non-refoulement (prohibition on returning refugees to persecution) and on the social inclusion of migrants. For the European Commission we have analysed and assessed the establishment of equality bodies in the EU Member States and EFTA countries. We have also carried out a mapping project on the legal and policy framework for anti-discrimination in Turkey and the Western Balkans. In addition, we have conducted extensive research on the feasibility of harmonisation within the EU of legislation combating violence against women and children and violence based on sexual orientation.
Training and awareness-raising
Our evidence-based analysis and advice, together with target-group-specific approaches, are the key elements of our training and awareness-raising projects. For the European Commission we have organised good practice exchange seminars on all discrimination grounds for representatives of the governments of the EU Member States. We have also run anti-discrimination and diversity training for NGOs and trade unions. These were later followed by awareness-raising seminars in the area of non-discrimination and equality, targeted at civil society organisations in general.
Impact assessment and indicator development
Donors require evaluations to assess the impact of the projects they fund. Evaluations we have undertaken include projects funded within the framework of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, a global review of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights technical cooperation programme and various evaluations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. In addition to the evaluations themselves, we contribute to the development of methodology for evaluations, such as developing indicator approaches and frameworks. Examples include outcome indicators for human rights interventions for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Dutch organisation Cordaid. More recently we supported FRA in developing statistical outcome indicators for Article 19 CRPD (on independent living).
Our office
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The Netherlands
office@humanconsultancy.com
T: +31 (0)30 232 64 30