Dovilé Juodkaité Biography

Lawyer, graduated from the Law Faculty of Vilnius University in 1998, continued her professional training as a scholar at the Columbia University School of Law (2001-2002), in Public Interest Law Initiative program, focusing on human rights of people with mental disabilities. In 2004-2005 participated in an Open Society institute Centre for Policy studies, International Policy fellowship program, under the Public Health, Mental disability Advocacy Program (MDAP). In 2010-2011 she has completed and received International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights, organized by Indian Law Society in collaboration with WHO. Since 2002 D. Juodkaite is actively working in Lithuania, focusing on human rights and disability. She was involved in various international and national projects on: human rights and disability, nondiscrimination, mental health care, policy and law, guardianship issues, social inclusion of people with disabilities. She was involved in promoting UNCRPD, OPCAT and other international documents enhancing rights of people with disabilities in Lithuania and other countries (Baltic countries, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia). She actively participated in development and reforming of national legislation, provided trainings, gave lectures and consultancy on the issues of rights of persons with disabilities . During 2010-2016 she provided input in various international desk researches, studies and interviews on the implementation of UNCRPD, prepared training modules and delivered trainings on „Medical ethics, human rights and human relationship“ for specialists of psychiatric institutions; „Protection and monitoring of human rights of persons with disabilities in long-term residential institutions”, training module developed within the program, certified by the Ministry of Social security and labor for professional development of social work specialists; “Legal capacity and rights of persons with mental health problems established by UN CRPD. National legislative reform and practice in Lithuania” for judges, prosecutors, legal representatives, etc.; “Legal capacity and the right to supported decision making. National legislative reform and practice of social workers in assessing persons’ needs for support”, training module developed within the program, certified by the Ministry of Social security and labor for professional development of social work specialists. Since June 2013 she is the president of Lithuanian Disability Forum, which is the umbrella organisation of people with disabilities in her country. In May 2017 she has been elected as a member of EDF Board of Directors.