School of Law

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Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

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About Project Team & Partners Project Details Ressources

Project Details

The DOLI project is built upon a multi-faceted research framework designed to bridge the gap between abstract legal theory and the practical reality of detention.

  • Research Objective & Systematic Reframing: The primary goal is to fundamentally reframe our legal understanding of dignity. By documenting lived experiences within custodial environments, the project challenges existing top-down definitions and ensures that legal standards are informed by those they are designed to protect.

  • Interdisciplinary Methodology: DOLI employs a rigorous, human rights-based approach that synthesises insights from law, social sciences, philosophy, and health sciences. This holistic methodology allows for a deeper interrogation of how dignity is maintained or eroded in institutional settings.

  • Inclusion & Accessibility: A cornerstone of the project is its focus on inclusive research. We actively facilitate the participation of individuals who are frequently marginalised, specifically those with complex communication needs or those requiring decision-making support, ensuring their voices are integral to the findings.

  • The DOLI Score Innovation: At the heart of the project’s technical output is the development of the DOLI score. This represents the first comprehensive, empirical diagnostic instrument designed to measure the protection of dignity in places of detention, providing a concrete metric for human rights compliance.

  • Jurisdictional Comparative Analysis: To ensure the findings have broad European relevance, the research conducts a comparative analysis across three distinct legal and social landscapes: Ireland, Norway, and Romania.

  • Global Legal & Policy Impact: Beyond academic inquiry, DOLI aims to establish a new scholarship that offers authoritative guidance. This evidence-based research is intended to serve as a vital resource for courts, legal practitioners, and international policymakers in the ongoing effort to prevent torture and ill-treatment.

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