Knowledge that shapes policy and law

CEDIS members have helped to shape public policy and legislation at global, European and national level, producing studies and policy reports for governments, NGOs, the European Commission and Parliament, the UNDP and civil society organisations.

41Awards to CEDIS researchers (2018–2023)
11Policy and legislation
5Clinics and observatories

Policy and legislation

  • Jeremy Sarkin

    His work with Syrian NGOs led to the UN mechanism (2023) to search for around one million people who disappeared in Syria since 2011.

  • Claire Bright

    Co-authored the European Commission study that underpinned the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (2022).

  • NOVA BHRE

    In 2023, produced two reports: one for the UN on human-rights risks of business activity in Mozambique, and one for the Portuguese Government on the first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

  • Helena Pereira de Melo

    Member of key bioethics and biolaw committees; contributed to the revision of the Health Framework Law, supporting the Ministry of Health in drafting legislation.

  • Margarida Lima Rego

    Led the analysis of 40 years of road-accident data and court decisions for legislative improvements, at the request of the Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority.

  • Jorge Morais Carvalho

    Coordinated studies and drafted regulations for the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE).

  • Felipe Pathé-Duarte

    Consultant to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (Mozambique, 2020) and the Council of Europe (2023); recommendations adopted under the EUR-OPA Agreement.

  • Athina Sachoulidou

    Member of a European Commission High-Level Group on access to data for law enforcement.

  • Laura Íñigo Álvarez

    Took part in the peer review of the Portuguese National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct; her symposium was cited in the OECD annual report (2021).

  • Filipe Brito Bastos

    Co-authored reports for the European Parliament on the accountability of the European Banking Union.

  • João Zenha Martins

    Represented Portugal in several organisations and took part in drafting labour-law legislation.

Outreach

CEDIS provides direct legal support and public engagement through several clinics and observatories:

  1. 01 Equality and Discrimination Clinic
  2. 02 Observatory against Racism and Xenophobia
  3. 03 NOVA Refugee and Migration Clinic
  4. 04 NOVA IPSI
  5. 05 NOVA Consumer Lab

Public engagement programmes

“Conversas sobre Racismo e Xenofobia”

An initiative to empower people to take part in discussions on racism and xenophobia.

“16 Days of Activism”

Campaign led by the NOVA Refugee and Migration Clinic in 2023, with similar campaigns planned for 2025–2029.

Awards

Between 2018 and 2023, CEDIS researchers received 41 awards. Some examples:

  • Nausica Palazzo EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy and Fulbright 75th Anniversary Award, Italy
    2023
  • Teresa Pizarro Beleza Maria Barroso Award for Gender, Equality and Citizenship
    2021
  • Luís Cabral de Oliveira Calouste Gulbenkian / Portuguese Academy of History Award
    2021
  • Felipe Pathé-Duarte ASMEA Research Award
    2021
  • Assunção Cristas e Armando Marques Guedes “Friend of the Navy” Medal, Brazilian Navy
    2021
  • Giulia Priora ATRIP Essay Competition winner
    2021
  • Soraya Nour Sckell Wolfgang-Kaupen Award, German Sociology Association
    2018

Meet the researchers whose work is changing law and society.

Impact Trajectories