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Oliver Lewis presents at Academy of European Law’s annual disability conference

On Friday 19 November 2021, Oliver Lewis will give a presentation at the Academy of European Law’s annual conference on the rights of persons with disabilities. The conference programme is available here.

Oliver’s presentation addresses the right to vote and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Oliver will analyse recent case-law including Strøbye and Rosenlind v. Denmark, in which he was co-counsel for the applicants in their appeal to the Grand Chamber. In that case, the Grand Chamber refused to overturn the Chamber decision, thereby permitting governments to exclude from voting, those people who they consider do not have “the required level of mental skills”.

Oliver will analyse the decision and argue that it is discriminatory and pursues no legitimate public policy aim. He will outline how the Strasbourg court is a outlier among international human rights bodies, given its approach is inconsistent with Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which applies the concept of one-person-one-vote to all people with disabilities, irrespective of type of impairment or need for support.

Oliver is available to advise intergovernmental organisations, governments and civil society on strategic litigation and electoral law reform to achieve greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in political and public life. His clerk for international work is Naomi Smith, email n.smith@doughtystreet.co.uk.