About us
The Centre for Law, Families and Diversity connects law with our pluralistic and super-diverse society. Research, teaching, and community outreach are among our core tasks.
Research
The Centre for Law, Families and Diversity consists of a team of legal-academic researchers who address a wide range of topics and methodologies. The reciprocal relationship between law and diversity among individuals and families in society is always central to our approach.
We take a critical stance toward prevailing power structures in society. Since law is part of these structures, it is not addressed in a vacuum, but in its social context.
We employ a combination of legal doctrinal, legal theoretical, critical, and social science research methods. We approach law transversally: from the highest courts and tribunals to law in action at the level of those seeking justice.
Teaching
The team members of the Centre for Law, Families and Diversity offer university courses to immerse future generations of lawyers in an in-depth study of the relationship between law, families and diversity. We also offer continuing education.
Community Outreach
The Centre for Law, Families and Diversity has a clear objective of developing and disseminating knowledge on diversity and family issues, often related to vulnerable groups in society. In this way, we amplify the voices of social groups that are not always heard in the legal system.
We share our knowledge not only among academics and policymakers, but also through accessible initiatives aimed at the general public and civil society. We believe in collaboration and are open to proposals to join forces.
Structure
The Centre for Law, Families and Diversity was established in 2025 as part of the Department of the Interdisciplinary Study of Law, Private Law and Business Law at the Faculty of Law and Criminology of Ghent University.
Within the faculty, the research group collaborates closely with other research units such as the Center for Foundations and Methods of Private Law, the Human Rights Centre, the Law and Technology research group, the Migration Law research group (MigrLaw), and ConstitUGent. It maintains close interfaculty ties with the UGent Human Rights Research Network and CESSMIR.