Dream FP7

Maastricht Law Faculty is a partner in the DREAM (Disability Rights Expanding Accessible Markets) FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network. The Pan-European doctoral research project will run for 4 years, and focuses on research that will find practical ways of making the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons for Disabilities a reality in the daily lives of people with disabilities in Europe. The DREAM Network has been awarded a grant by the European Commission of 3.7 million euros, with approximately 450 000 euros being ear-marked for Maastricht.        

The project will be coordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and involves five other academic research centres based in the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Several leading international research institutes will also contribute, including the Harvard Project in Disability.

The project is premised on the idea that smart EU policy initiatives on disability are not just good for people with disabilities, but also help expand markets and increase overall levels of economic activity. Digital Europe, the main umbrella body for European software and hardware manufactures and services, is a key commercial partner in the project.        

14 Early Stage Researchers, or Ph.D. researchers, will be funded under the project, of which two will be based in Maastricht (one in the Ius Commune Research School and one in the Human Rights Research School). All the researchers will carry out at least one paid internship at a leading European civil society organisation, such as Interights (London), Mental Disability Advocacy Centre (Budapest), the European Disability Forum (Brussels) or the European Group of Human Rights Commissions.         

Lisa Waddington is leading Maastricht's involvement in the project.