The report was authored by Prof Shane Kilcommins, Dr Claire Edwards and Ms Tina O’Sullivan, University College Cork and was commissioned by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) with the kind support of the Equality Authority’s Small Grants Fund.
The report contains a comparative overview of the legal provisions and supports for people with disabilities as victims of crime across seven common law jurisdictions – Ireland, Northern Ireland, England & Wales, Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The report highlights opportunities and barriers to accessing justice including in relation to individual rights, service provision and dedicated initiatives to facilitate persons with a disability who are victims of crime including throughout the pre-trial, trial and post-trial periods of criminal proceedings.
The launch of the report will coincide with a half-day seminar on The Rights of Persons with a Disability as Victims of Crime - 10.30am -1.30pm.
Speakers from a range of statutory, victims’ rights organisations, disability rights organisations and services providers will discuss the findings and recommendations of the report including what we can learn from best practice in other common law jurisdictions.
The report and accompanying seminar should be of interest to a range of stakeholders including:
• Advocates and campaigners for the rights of persons with a disability;
• Advocates and campaigners for victims’ rights;
• Legal practitioners
• Community law centres;
• The Courts Services;
• Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
• An Garda Síochána;
• Citizens information and advice services;
• HSE;
• Policy makers;
• Services providers;
• Civil society organisations;
• Other relevant stakeholders.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please note that spaces at the event are limited.
For further information, please contact Victoria Apostol at victoria.apostol@iccl.ie