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Performing/ Informing Rights (2021-2023)

This project uses dance to promote inclusive and sustainable development for disabled persons in conflict- and COVID-affected environments. More specifically, the project employs inclusive dance to train disabled persons in Sri Lanka and Nepal on how to use the Right to Information to ensure that their claims for social welfare and social protection are processed in a fair, transparent, and timely manner – something that has become more critical during the pandemic.

The project is led by Prof Lars Waldorf (Essex Law School, University of Essex), supported by Dr Hetty Blades (Centre for Dance Research, Coventry University), and Dr Helena-Ulrike Marambio (Essex Law School, University of Essex). The team is further supported by Sri Lankan and Nepali non-profit entities: 1) VisAbility, a German-Sri Lankan association that combines inclusive dance and rights awareness to empower disabled people and to challenge social attitudes towards disability; 2) Advocacy Forum-Nepal, a human rights research and advocacy organization with a long-term record in the field of transitional justice; as well as 3) the National Network of Disabled Conflict Victims composed of civilians with conflict-related disabilities. The organisations are collaborating with local artistic schools like the dance school Meranga Fine Arts Ensemble (Sri Lanka) and the music school NAAD Sangeet Pathshala (Nepal).

‘Performing/Informing Rights’ (Nov 2021 – July 2023) was funded by an AHRC Follow-on Funding grant (UN Creative Economy for Sustainable Development Call).