A Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and the University of Malta (UM) was signed by Mr Oliver Scicluna, Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability, and Professor Alfred J. Vella, UM Rector, in the presence of the  Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Mr Anthony Agius Decelis, the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi and a key stakeholder in the sector, Dr Anne Marie Callus, Head, Department of Disability Studies.

 

Through this Agreement both Parties are showing their wish to work together to achieve the common aim of furthering the mainstreaming of rights of persons with disabilities and strengthening their participation in society.

The University, through the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, and notably through the Department of Disability Studies, will seek to advise CRPD on the development of the Disability Equality Training Material produced by CRPD, and collaborate with CRPD to deliver the sessions to Government, Private Entities and Non-Governmental Organizations. The UM and CRPD will also jointly organise an annual conference on an area related to the disability sector. Together they will carry out an annual survey that will gauge how the disability sector is benefitting or otherwise from services currently being provided. The survey will be brought to the attention of competent authorities, and there will be a concerted effort to advocate for rectifying any shortcomings and for the implementation of best practice. 

The Parties may enter into more specific agreements for the better implementation of the any of the collaborative initiatives.