Neil Crowther Consulting - making rights make sense

Current and recent work

EU Initial Report on implementation of UNCRPD

Conducted in depth interviews with European level disability organisations to inform the European Union's first report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Re-framing equality in the context of austerity

Designed and delivered a seminar for Irish public authorities on behalf of the Irish Equality Authority exploring how equality can be re-framed to achieve greater relevance, prominence and influence in the context of austerity and how the positive impact of equality can be more clearly demonstrated. Participants scored the seminar a consistent 8-10 (out of 10).  Get in touch if interested.


Bridging the divide – matters to be taken into account in relation to the integration of national equality bodies and human rights institutions in the European Union

  •  
    With funding from the Nuffield Foundation to University College London, this research project will draw out lessons for policy makers and practitioners from existing research and from six EU country case-studies regarding matters to be taken into account in relation to the integration of equalities bodies and national human rights institutions within the European Union area.

Director, Thomas Paine Initiative 

Director of new collaborative fund which aims to:

  • Promote the fundamental values underlying the European Convention on Human Rights in the UK. 
  • Support research considering the potential options available for changes in UK human rights legislation and regulation and to educate by way of informed comment on the potential impact of the changes.  
  • Promote an increase in overall funding for human rights work in the UK and to enable NGOs working in this field to become more financially robust.
  • Increase public support for and awareness of human rights.

Development of a major research funding application on disability rights

Provided advice and support to the University of Ireland in Galway in putting together a major research funding application concerning disability rights in Europe.


The fundamental rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems in nine EU countries

Based on qualitative research conducted across nine EU countries, co-wrote a synthesis report with Professor Anna Lawson from the University of Leeds regarding the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities or mental health problems of living independently and being included in the community.  The report will be published by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in Spring 2012

Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into the implementation of disabled people's right to independent living 

Specialist adviser to the Committee, analysing evidence, providing legal and policy advice, drafting findings and recommendations.  

Promoting the rights to inclusive education and sustainable employment in the Commonwealth 

Supporting the Commonwealth Secretariat with advocacy and capacity building activities concerning the rights of disabled people to inclusive education and sustainable employment across the Commonwealth.  

EU Law and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Presenting and facilitating at a seminar for legal and policy practitioners, organised by the European Law Academy in Trier

















 

What clients say about Neil Crowther Consulting 

Neil Crowther has been hugely instrumental in enabling my team to think though how to frame important research questions and push forward for major international research funding.  He is a rare breed who inhabits the space between the worlds of ideas,  the lived reality of people with disabilities and the policy world.  The breadth of his vision and the sheer depth and quality of his knowledge is of vital importance in helping people see issues differently, emerge from silos and work toward solutions.  He is an excellent team player with a good instinctive feel for how to move collective goals forward.  I highly commend Neil and his work.

Professor Gerard Quinn, University of Ireland Centre for Disability Law and Policy 


Neil Crowther and Phil McCarvill provided high quality, tailored training for the Irish Equality Authority, upskilling its staff on making the case for equality in the context of austerity and on utilising effectively existing opportunities to create pro-equality organisational change in partner organisations.  They possess extensive skills to support organisations to take action on equality even in a context of austerity.

Carol Baxter, Equality Authority Ireland


"Neil stepped in for a research team member, who fell ill shortly before the deadline of a research project, and took over the comparative analysis of a field study in 9 EU countries on the fundamental rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, contracted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and delivered a good report within a short time period."  

Piet Leunis, Human European Consultancy