Ariadne News & Events

Image: Anina Takeff

GOODBYE FLORENT! Last week, we bid farewell to our Programme & Events Assistant, Flo. I’m sure you’ll join us in thanking Flo for all his hard work over the last three years, and wish him all the best in his new role!

ARIADNE’S PORTAL: At the beginning of the month, we launched Ariadne’s new portal! If you haven’t yet logged in, please do so here (NB: your username is your email address). After some ‘teething problems,’ we’ve temporarily disabled email notifications while our developers fix some things. For users who are opted in to receiving immediate notifications, these will soon start again. We’re also going to be launching a ‘daily digest’ function for those of you who’d prefer less frequent alerts. More information coming soon. Need assistance? Take a look at our guide or email portal-help@ariadne-network.eu.

MICRO PORTAL TRAINING SESSIONS: Learn how to use the new Ariadne Portal in this 30-minute training session. Ariadne members are encouraged to join one of these micro training sessions, to find out how to make the most of our new site! To register, click here.

CONSULTANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: SUSAN TREADWELL MEMORIAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME: Ariadne’s late Advisory Board member, Susan Treadwell, sought to elevate the voices of the marginalised and bring those voices into not only policy discussions but also the work of mainstream civil society organisations. She challenged herself, organisations she helped lead and build, and those around her to reflect on and interrogate their own biases and insisted that any programmatic effort be designed on the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’. It is in her spirit and the memory of her work and out of respect for her impact that we are reimagining our mentorship programme and launching the Susan Treadwell Memorial Mentorship Programme. We now seek to consciously develop the mentoring scheme as a pipeline for bringing professionals from a more diverse range of backgrounds into the sector and providing them with the support they need to thrive and take on leadership roles. We are now looking for a consultant to scope out and design the next phase of Ariadne’s mentoring programme with an explicit racial and gender justice lens. Location: Flexible/remote, preferably based in or near GMT or CET time zones. Deadline: Friday 12th November. For the full consultancy announcement, and to apply, click here. 

WEBINAR: CLIMATE CHANGE AND FINANCE: WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW: Join us on Monday 25^th October, 15:00-16:15 CEST (14:00-15:15 BST | 9:00-10:15 ET) as our expert panel discusses the connection between climate change and finance, and how funders can push for change. Mobilise finance is one of the four goals of the COP26, but what do human rights and social change funders need to know about the intersection of climate change, finance, economy, and governance, in order to seize the political momentum towards green finance and push for a just transition? Speakers: Wojtek Kalinowski, Veblen Institute for Economic Reforms; Lucie Pinson, Reclaim Finance; and Brice Böhmer, Transparency International. Moderator: Jon Cracknell, The Hour is Late. To register, click here.

WEBINAR: HOW CAN FUNDERS PROTECT THE YOUTH CLIMATE MOVEMENT? The Youth Climate Movement (YCM) is one of the most important movements of our time. Over the past few years youth activists have demonstrated the power to fundamentally shift climate narratives and galvanise public, governmental, and corporate action in countries around the world. The YCM’s campaigning is at odds with powerful forces and vested interests, leaving young activists exposed to threats that seek to destroy the movement, discredit its leadership, and dissuade others from taking up their mantle. If the YCM is to maintain and grow its power, then strategies for safety, resilience and sustainability need to be at the movement’s core. Ariadne and HRFN invite you to explore how the philanthropic community can respond to the security needs of the YCM in a way that addresses the needs and lived experience of youth activists, harnesses the movement’s strengths, and builds on the risk mitigation infrastructure and expertise already in place. Speakers: Steve Campbell, Urban Movement Innovation Fund; Natasha Westheimer, Sam Chenkin, Kimberley Hikaka and Oren Yakobovich from Kamara. Click here to join this webinar on Thursday 4^th November 2021, 16:00 CET (15:00 GMT | 11:00 ET).

SAVE THE DATE: HARNESSING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FOR A JUST TRANSITION: WHAT CAN FOUNDATIONS LEARN FROM CLIMATE ASSEMBLIES IN FRANCE AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES? On Tuesday 30^th November, 14:30-16:00 CET (13:30-15:00 GMT | 08:30-10:00 ET) we’ll be hosting a webinar with Armel Le Coz of Démocratie Ouverte and Erica Hope of the European Climate Foundation. Registration link coming soon.

NEW BLOG: MAKING INCLUSION A REALITY: LESSONS IN EQUITY FROM THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SUPPORT FUND: In this blog, Mathu Jeyaloganathan, Head of Investment at UnLtd, explores how to build inclusion and equity into grant giving. Equity was put at the heart of their new Social Enterprise Support Fund and as a result, over half of their grants went to people identifying as Black, Asian, from a minority ethnic background and/or disabled.

(DIGITAL POWER) OFFICE HOURS: MEET WITH MAYA: Maya Richman, the project lead of Ariadne’s digital power programme, would like to offer ‘office hours’ for Ariadne members. Are you interested in discussing issues related to technology and data and the intersection of human rights? Are you looking for resources to inform your grantmaking but don’t know where to start? Book a 30-minute conversation with Maya here.

UPCOMING RESEARCH: HOW DIGITAL RIGHTS AND CLIMATE JUSTICE INTERSECT: Ariadne, Mozilla and the Ford Foundation are kicking off a new research project exploring how digital rights and climate justice intersect. The research will better equip digital rights funders to craft grantmaking strategies that maximise impact on both issues. Interim findings from the research will be released in the first quarter of 2022. Click here to read the announcement.

TECH TOUCHPOINT ON OPEN SOURCE DEVELOPMENT: How do we fund and support open source projects? What does that look like in practice? Join Di Luong from Open Tech Fund, Tara Tarakiyee from the Center for the Cultivation of Technology and others to learn about privacy preserving grantmaking tools, and how to support open source ecosystems. You don’t need to be a “tech funder”. Questions? Email maya.richman@ariadne-network.eu. Date and agenda to follow in early November.

JOIN OUR UPCOMING STRATEGIC COHORT! We’re looking for one more funder to join the Strategic Cohort process for October – December. Each strategic cohort consists of 6 members who will receive hands-on support to develop a technology approach within their team. The cohort methodology blends one-on-one sessions with larger group discussions that support each member to reflect on how technology and data issues influence their foundation’s grantmaking. To apply, click here.

AMA: WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH AI? WHY SHOULD I CARE? Join us for an informal chat with Frederike Kaltheuner, Fund Director at the EU AI Fund. Many of you have expressed interest in learning more about AI, the funding landscape, and cutting through the hype. In this “Ask Me Anything” conversation you will have the opportunity to ask Frederike about the EU AI landscape, what she’s been learning, insights from the recent scoping report, and possible overlap where EU human rights funders may find value. The conversation will take no longer than 1 hour in early December. Exact date to be determined. Interested? Email maya.richman@ariadne-network.eu with your interest to attend and 1 burning question related to AI deployed in the European context.

*To register for Ariadne events, your institution must be a member organisation of Ariadne. For questions regarding your membership status, please contact Hannah Stevens.

New Research, Articles and Judgements

Manufacturing moral panic: Weaponizing children to undermine gender justice and human rights: A new report from Elevate Children Funders Group and Global Philanthropy Project explores how gender-restrictive groups are using child protection rhetoric to manufacture moral panic and mobilise against human rights, and how this strengthens the illiberal politics currently undermining democracies. The report’s comparative analysis of three country case studies (Bulgaria, Ghana, and Perú) underscores recurring strategies, narratives, and actors and gives insight into how gender-restrictive groups collaborate and engage in coalitional work across the globe. This significant new research includes important findings and recommendations for funders. There is also a 2-page fact sheet.

Who protects us from the police? Structural racism in law enforcement in the European Union: A new report from Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice explores the persistent issues of racism and police brutality in Europe. The report highlights key instances, phenomena and case studies relating to persistent police brutality in Europe, and its particular impact on racialised people and communities. It asks readers to question why the names of Oury Jalloh, Stanislav Tomáš or Adil Charrot are not remembered as those who lost their lives to racist police violence on our doorsteps. It asks, in a context of an ongoing lack of recognition and accountability: “who protects us from the police?” See also, Automating Injustice: The use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems in criminal justice in Europe.

Most of Europe fails to guarantee access to abortion care: A new comprehensive atlas of abortion policies across Europe shows that women’s experience ‘largely depends on their postcode’, reports this article from openDemocracy.

Hearing the human: Ensuring due diligence legislation effectively amplifies the voices of those affected by irresponsible business: A new policy brief representing the views of more than 60 community members and civil society organisations calls for due diligence laws to amplify voices of those affected by irresponsible business. It outlines the need to mandate meaningful stakeholder engagement and prioritise safety of defenders in EU Sustainable Corporate Governance Initiative

Afghan women and girls under immediate threat: The responsibility to protect and assist is just beginning: There is arguably no population more affected by the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan than Afghan women and girls. The United States and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have invoked the rights of Afghan women and girls to help justify their military engagement in Afghanistan. In this new report, Refugees International argues that the responsibility of these nations to promote and protect these rights does not end with the troop withdrawal. 

Race in Germany and Europe: The Center for Intersectional Justice has launched a new factsheet on race in Germany and Europe. The factsheet is a resource for community education, policymakers, and politicians on the social and legal dimensions of race in the European discourse. It maps out the role of race as a term to describe ongoing systems of structural discrimination and the role of race in anti-discrimination legislation. The goal of this document is to further the understanding of the contemporary role of race in the EU and specifically German society and legislation, to empower communities with more in depth information on the structural nature of racism and to facilitate ongoing dialogue on race as a social construct and its present importance in the constitution.

Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

Image from Catalyst article

RESOURCE: Tech jargon in context: The typical buzzwords used in digital projects: Hearing or reading jargon can be alienating and counter-productive. When you’re collaborating on a digital project, you’re probably going to be working across disciplines. The last thing you or anyone wants is to be intimidated by the language used in your catch up meetings. We all use sector-specific jargon without realising it; avoiding it altogether can be tricky, and even a roadblock to getting things done. In this resource, Catalyst takes us through the typical phases of digital product development, along with the jargon that you should expect to hear, and what it all means in context.

ARTICLE: No more white saviours, thanks: How to be a true anti-racist ally: In order for true diversity to flourish, we need to first become unswervingly anti-racist. That means doing more than watching a few documentaries or reading some books, says Nova Reid, in this article for The Guardian. Consciously ‘unlearning’ racism is the crucial first step.

PODCAST: Framing Human Rights: The ECCHR podcast: Framing Human Rights is ECCHR’s podcast about art and the law. Conversations explore how to combine artistic and legal interventions to give more power to social movements and look at the power the arts can have in the global fight for justice.

ARTICLE: “I see my work as talking back”: How critical race theory mastermind Kimberlé Crenshaw is weathering the culture wars: Along with writing three books, teaching law, hosting a podcast, and running a social justice think tank, Crenshaw is now juggling the pop-political bastardization of her scholarship by Republicans—and she’s not backing down, according to this article from Vanity Fair.

ARTICLE: Escape from Kabul: A government official’s story: In this article for openDemocracy, an Afghan government official narrates the story of his escape from Kabul in the midst of the chaos surrounding the city’s fall to the Taliban.

ARTICLE: How battling France’s COVID pass led the Left to embolden the far Right: This article for openDemocracy looks at how, instead of focusing on changes that would ease pandemic suffering, left-wing groups in France have joined hysterical protests that boost conspiracy theorists.

Do you have a great blog post, case study or podcast you’d like to contribute? We would love to feature it. Email Hannah Stevens at hannah.stevens@ariadne-network.eu.

Grant-Making

Comparative highlights of foundation laws: The operating environment for foundations in Europe: The Philanthropy Advocacy initiative – led by Dafne and the EFC – has launched the most comprehensive overview to date of the legal and fiscal regulation of foundations and philanthropy. “Comparative Highlights” is an outcome of a two-year mapping project detailing the regulatory environments in which philanthropy and foundations operate in 40 countries across Europe. The publication draws on these country profiles, which were drafted by national-level experts, to provide a comparative overview of the diverse national legal and fiscal frameworks for foundations in Europe, and to identify the most relevant trends and patterns, as well as challenges. This comparative analysis seeks to inform the work towards an enabling environment for philanthropy in Europe.

Youth at the forefront of resistance: Earlier this year, Elevate Children Funders Group played a role in organising a panel of young activists from around the world to speak at the Shimmering Solidarity Summit. It was important that the process was intentional and a positive experience for the young people, so the team developed a thoughtful five month engagement with the young activists. This report includes lessons learned and recommendations for engaging with young people. See also, Girls know what’s best for them: A conversation about the power and agency of girl-led activism on International Day of the Girl, 2021.

Foundation funding for climate change mitigation: European spotlight: In this report, ClimateWorks provides the most comprehensive analysis ever published on philanthropic climate change mitigation funding in and from Europe. It provides detailed analysis of European foundation funding for climate change mitigation in 2016, 2018, and 2020, with a particular focus on the largest foundation funders. The report examines funding flows into and within Europe as well as funding from European donors for work around the rest of the world, providing a comprehensive view of the continent’s key role in the climate philanthropy ecosystem. 

How participatory grantmaking has a role in ensuring levelling up lasts the distance: Cassie Robinson and Hannah Paterson have written an article for grantmakers in the UK grappling with what ‘levelling up’ (a UK government directive) could mean for Participatory Grantmaking.

Acting together to lift up philanthropy: WINGS guidance on how to build a supportive ecosystem: WINGS has published a guide on how to build a supportive ecosystem for philanthropy, measure its effectiveness, and ‘make infrastructure visible’. It provides several tools that line up perfectly with the new eco-systemic approach embraced by the sector.

Meet the Black Feminist Fund founders out to transform philanthropy: In 2018, out of nearly $70 billion in foundation giving globally, less than half of one percent went to Black feminist social movements. Within more targeted human rights philanthropy, only five percent of funded organisations focused on issues affecting Black women, girls and trans and gender non-conforming people. And just one grant was given to support international Black feminist organising. This year, a new philanthropic organisation, the Black Feminist Fund (BFF), was launched to tackle that problem. Meet the founders in this article.

Does philanthropy have too much influence? Or not enough? Pandemic response around the globe has elevated and centred philanthropy, causing many bystanders to pay attention to the sector for the first time. From recognising the influence of the Gates Foundation on global public health to understanding the public-private funding of the WHO to communities relying on mutual aid – philanthropy and funding have been in the public eye more than ever before. As part of Alliance’s 25th anniversary, this article tries to understand how philanthropy’s influence on society has changed over the last quarter century – as well as what expert practitioners want to see from it in the future.

Philanthropy’s tax blind spot: In this blog for Alliance, Michael Jarvis of Transparency and Accountability Initiative and Savior Mwambwa of Open Society Foundations write that now is the moment to shake up the world of tax. They ask, will funders rally to the moment?

Philanthropy right now: The power of community: Philanthropy Right Now is a new column for Beacon Collaborative by Marie-Louise Gourlay of The Philanthropy Workshop. The first column looks at the power of community; a topic that’s risen time and again over the last 18 months. The twin pandemics of Covid-19 and the profound racial injustice that spurred the Black Lives Matter movement simultaneously tore us apart and flung us together.

The next Thread will go out on Thursday 18^th November. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Hannah Stevens by Tuesday 16^th November if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue.

Jobs and Tenders

Portfolio Manager – Comic Relief: Comic Relief is seeking a Portfolio Manager to join a team that manages funding calls, ongoing relationships with funded partners in the UK and internationally, and relationships with key stakeholders. The postholder will ensure that trust and learning are present in all funding relationships, collaborate across the organisation in support of the strategic change themes, and represent the social change strategy internally and externally. Location: London, UK and remote. Deadline for applications is 21^st October.

Chargé-e de Missions (Urgences & Solidarités Internationales) – Fondation de France : Fondation de France recherche un-e Chargé-e de Missions qui sera mobilisé-e sur les programmes « Covid » initiés par la Fondation. Il ou elle participera au contrôle-qualité des programmes, à l’identification et au suivi qualitatif et financier des projets soutenus dans le cadre des opérations. L’employé-e travaillera en étroite collaboration avec la Chargée des Programmes Urgences, les responsables et chargés de programmes impliqués dans l’opération, les directions Financière, Communication et Développement. Lieu : Paris, France. Les candidats sont encouragés à présenter leur candidature dès que possible.

Programme Officer (Special Interest Programme) – Oak Foundation: Oak Foundation is looking for a Programme Officer to join their Special Interest Programme. The successful candidate will work on a wide range of issues, but for this role, there will also be an emphasis on the environment – specifically on climate justice, conservation, and biodiversity – where an interdisciplinary, socio-ecological approach is needed. Location: Geneva, Switzerland; London, UK; or Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US. Deadline for applications is 24^th October.

Head of People and Operations – The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust: The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is seeking a Head of People and Operations to lead the Trust’s human resources strategy, culture, and policy work, as well as ensuring the effective running of its operations, including IT and grant administration systems, and premises. The role would suit an experienced leader who brings a passion for both people and systems, and who is committed to creating a culture and infrastructure that enables teams and work to flourish. Location: York, UK. Deadline for applications is 24^th October.

Grant Administrator – Porticus: Porticus is seeking a Grant Administrator to ensure the quality of the foundation’s grantmaking processes and provide support to grant managers during the life cycle of a grant. While this is largely an administrative role, it is an opportunity to gain an insight in the workings of an international philanthropic organisation. The administrator will work with all relevant stakeholders at Porticus: grantees, programme managers, and (international) colleagues in finance, legal, IT, and operations. Location: Vienna, Austria. Deadline for applications is 24^th October.

Funding Officer (Leicester) – The National Lottery Community Fund: The National Lottery Community Fund has an opening in Leicester for a Funding Officer. Based in the city, the successful applicant will be part of a remote team of Funding Officers and Funding Managers, covering the Fund’s Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire patch, but also working within the wider Midlands team. The role of Funding Officer is critical to the work of the Fund. It involves having conversations with community groups, gathering information, and using local context to inform how lottery funding is invested into the city. Location: Leicester, UK and remote. Deadline for applications is 31^st October.

*For more jobs, see the ‘Career Opportunities’ section on the landing page of the Ariadne portal. To address pay gaps in the charity sector, we strongly encourage you to #showthesalary in your job adverts.

Public Meetings

ONLINE

October 19^th
What’s wrong with rights? The idea of human rights has become foundational in our legal system. Rights also bridge morality and politics and underpin our sense of what it means to be human. But where do rights come from? Can non-human beings have rights? And does the rights model reinforce individualism? Participants will discuss the advantages and limitations of the rights model and ask if they can think philosophically, ethically, and politically beyond rights. The online event will take place on 19^th October.

October 25^th to 27^th
International conference on the safe schools declaration: The Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict. The International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration will be held in Abuja, Nigeria and virtually. It is the fourth in a series held to galvanize support for the Declaration and review progress in achieving its commitments. The online event will take place from 25^th to 27^th October.

25^th October to 4^th November
Global Perspectives 2021: International Civil Society Centre’s ‘Global Perspectives 2021’ will gather a range of civil society actors to engage in interactive formats and discussions, on the topic of Power Shift. The conference will hold in-person meetings in three hubs in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, and broadcast their discussions online throughout the week to deliver insights and identify new connections. The conference will focus on civil society sector approaches to create a more just and impactful way of fighting for social, political and climate justice, and accelerate the overdue power shifts in decision-making, financing, and operations in their work. CSOs are unlearning and deconstructing current cultural norms that benefit from hierarchical worldviews and moving towards locally-led and globally connected operations. The three pillars of the event will be: de-concentrating data and digitalisation, decolonising and organisational structures, and embracing new power. The hybrid event will take place between 25^th and 4^th November.

October 26^th
Climate justice from below: Race, class, and climate crisis: The Stuart Hall Foundation’s #ReconstructionWork online conversation series continues with another special event. In the global north and south, low-income communities are the first to experience the impacts of pandemics, water scarcity, power shortages, poor air quality and subpar living standards, which amplify vulnerabilities to extreme weather conditions. These communities are also agents of potent political resistance who have consistently advanced community-based solutions to the climate crisis that are often ignored, or silenced, by the mainstream. Coinciding with COP26, Jhannel Tomlinson (Young People for Action Jamaica, GirlsCARE and JAWiC) and Leon Sealey-Huggins (University of Warwick) will share their experiences, think through examples of community-based organising against climate antagonisms, and complicate corporate-led solutions to addressing climate change. The online event will take place from 26^th October.

October 27^th
What if every foundation cared about climate? Philanthropy is about mobilising private resources for the public good, yet today an overwhelming majority of philanthropic resources are used without reflecting their impact on climate change. The climate crisis affects every aspect of human life, and by extension, all areas of philanthropy activity. With its independence and resources, philanthropy has the potential to support the bold and urgent transformative change required across our societies. So, what if every foundation cared about climate? The Next Philanthropy partners of the PEXcommunity invite you to join its second ‘What if? Reimagining philanthropy’ series, this time with Kristina Johansson, Director of the Solberga Foundation, and activist for racial, gender and climate justice. The online event will take place on 27^th October.

October 29^th
Donor Forum 2021 – Community Organising and Climate: The European Community Organising Network brings European community organisers together with funders to have frank and strategic conversations about growing the community organising sector in Europe. In the decades to come, climate change will be the organising principle of global society. The investments we make in a new, regenerative economy will lay the groundwork for an economic and social paradigm shift. Participants should expect frank, strategic and interactive conversations. The online event will take place on 29^th October.

ONLINE

October 29^th – 31^st
Sensing the planet: A black Atlantic symposium: This 3-day gathering will see leading UK cultural institutions Serpentine, the Royal Court Theatre, UCL’s Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the study of racism and racialisation, and Dartington Trust launch Black Atlantic, a new decolonial arts partnership that aims to strengthen the role of arts and culture in advancing social and climate justice. Timed to take place just before the intergovernmental climate conference COP26, Sensing the Planet will highlight issues of race and environmental harm as well as the role played by the UK, and of the south-west of England in particular, in histories of slavery, empire and climate breakdown. It will also champion the role of interdisciplinary culture in imagining new futures built on principles of sustainability and justice, bringing together leading decolonial thinkers, artists and activists including headline speakers Paul Gilroy, Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Philippe Sands QC. The online event will take place between 29^th and 31^st October.

November 1^st
Tarana Burke in conversation with Steve McQueen: Tarana Burke, activist, educator, and originator of the phrase ‘Me Too’, will be in conversation with Steve McQueen, Bafta-winning film director, writer, and award-winning visual artist. They will discuss race, identity, social justice, and women’s place within the Black Lives Matter movement. Participants will have the opportunity to ask their own questions in this livestreamed event. The online event will take place on 1^st November.

November 4^th
Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address: The Graduate Institute, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform invite you to the launch of the Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address. As international tensions rise, solutions to conflicts seem elusive and nationalist agendas threaten international cooperation, it is more important than ever to talk about peace and to offer a platform to those who are building it, day after day. The inaugural Address will be delivered by Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Africa’s first democratically elected female president, Ms. Johnson Sirleaf was President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018 and is a member of The Elders. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her ‘non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.’ This hybrid event will take place online and in Geneva, Switzerland on 4^th November. 

November 8^th
Black resistance to British policing: In his new book, Adam Elliott-Cooper analyses racism beyond prejudice and the interpersonal, arguing that black resistance confronts a global system of racial classification, exploitation, and violence. In this event, Adam Elliott-Cooper will be joined by a group of expert panellists to explore connections between histories of resistance and different kinds of black struggle against policing, which has made movements like Black Lives Matter possible. The online event will take place on 8^th November.

November 17^th to 19^th
Annual conference on the rights of persons with disabilities 2021: This online conference will provide a forum for discussion of the updates and challenges involved in the exercise of the right to independent living in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Participants will explore the relevant EU law and the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as best practice in the field. The online event will take place from 17^th to 19^th November.

November 25^th
What can the COVID-19 pandemic teach us about disability justice? This event will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disabled people, who have been deprioritised in pandemic planning around the world, facing discrimination in healthcare, exclusion from education and employment, and neglect, abuse, and violence both in care and in the community. Participants will learn how the lived experience of disabled people can inform activism and politics to make the world a fairer and more accessible place for all. The online event will take place on 25^th November.