Leiden Convention Bureau’s Post

🌟 Thrilled to Share an Incredible Experience! 🌟 This past week, I had the honor of representing the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the “Inclusion through Arts” conference. Organized by the Yerevan State University Centre for European Studies in collaboration with esteemed institutions like ShareMusic & Performing Arts - Swedish Knowledge Centre for Artistic Development and Inclusion, Henrik Igityan National Centre for Aesthetics, Global Campus Caucasus, Global Campus of Human Rights, and Right Livelihood, the event was inspiring. Inclusion is not just a policy; it's a mandate for creating equitable spaces in education and beyond. Speaking on the Human rights-based approach in education at the panel on "Inclusion as policy," I had the opportunity to dive deep into how we can leverage education for human rights to foster more equitable policymaking as well as promote inclusive communities and environments. A heartfelt thank you to the Yerevan State University Centre for European Studies for extending this invitation. The chance to participate and share thoughts was an enriching experience. The discussions and insights shared at the conference have only deepened my commitment to the cause of human rights and education. It’s clear that when we come together, sharing knowledge and experiences, we can pave the way for significant change. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in creating inclusive, equitable, and human rights-oriented educational environments. #HumanRights #InclusionThroughArts #EducationPolicy #HumanRightsEducation #Inclusion #Diversity #RaoulWallenbergInstitute #YSUCentreForEuropeanStudies #GlobalCampusOfHumanRights

This is a superb opportunity for those working in #forcedmigration #refugeeprotection #humantrafficking #migration etc. See Siobhán's post below for more details. #research #postdoc #postdoctoralfellowship #humanrights

#Democracy and #humanrights are closely linked. In addition to Utrecht University's Dies Natalis in March on democracy, human rights were the topic in the Opening Academic Year. It highlighted the importance of the 30 articles in the Declaration of Human Rights, and how they are still relevant even after 75 years. Not just for politicians like Sharon Dijksma, or institutions like the municipality of Utrecht and our university, but for all people, regardless of your background. Some quotes: "If Eleanor Roosevelt were to look down from the beautifully-restored Dom Tower today, in 2024, she would see a city and a university that have changed quite a lot since 1948. However, I think she would also say that much remains to be done. By the city and the university. And, by all of us too", were the closing words by Antoine Buyse. Mayor Sharon Dijksma focused on the right to 'demonstrate and establish organisations' inspired by the Tank Man in China. "All 30 articles of this vital charter are equally important to me – we need to cherish all 30 of these achievements – but I’ll tell you why I chose Article 20." She pointed out that Article 20, also raises a dilemma, like most articles do. On the one hand the right to protest and to speak freely, on the other the interest for saftey and public order. Henk Kummeling stressed that "All human rights are local. Human rights are a part of major national and international debates, of course, but for them to be put into practice, we need to look mainly at what is happening at the local level." “We are definitely also committed to ensuring that Utrecht University is and remains a place where peaceful demonstration is permitted. In the ‘human rights city’ of Utrecht in particular, we all have a responsibility to ensure that we uphold that name”, according to Anton Pijpers. You can read all the speeches on the website https://lnkd.in/eVHskHDf. 💡 or even better, watch back the livestream and watch the nice video's and the student dialogue on why human rights affects all people: https://lnkd.in/eVHskHDf. With students Robert Dasović, Anna Schotanus and Huseyin Ali "We can all be Eleanor and the Tank Man".

"This is the only way to ensure that we not only teach and research human rights, but also try to put them into practice ourselves, through trial and error" - Antoine Buyse This year, the Opening of the Academic Year 2024-2025 focuses on human rights and their significance for the university and the city of Utrecht. Keynotes were delivered by Prof. Antoine Buyse and mayor of Utrecht Sharon Dijksma. During the event, Joyce Browne, affiliated with UGlobe's signature project Global Health, led a thought-provoking panel discussion with three UU students on the project ‘Utrecht: City of Human and Right,’ a collaborative effort between True Heroes Films, UU and photographic artist Jan Banning. The project illustrates the relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in our daily lives in Utrecht. 🗣️ Key insights from our panelists: Huseyin Ali Kudret: ‘Every small action that you take to support refugees right, whether it is just correct misinformation or direct support for a refugee, it can make a big difference. Your contribution matters.’ Robert Dasović: ‘It's time for us to step off the beaten track of academia and walk out into society and say, "We know something and we want you to help us."’ Anna Schotanus: ‘As abstract as human rights may seem, I hope you will take away that a small action in your community can make a big difference to the human rights of others.’ Also a big congratulation to the student prizes nominees and winners of 2024 for their societal impact or thesis! ➡️ Watch the academic opening and read the article below: https://lnkd.in/g-FsTFvd  https://lnkd.in/g5CY8UhT Universiteit Utrecht UMC Utrecht Research theme Institutions for Open Societies (Utrecht University) Rechtsgeleerdheid Universiteit Utrecht De Nieuwe Utrechtse School Global Health UMC Utrecht Gemeente Utrecht #UtrechtUniversity #UGlobe #AcademicYear #HumanRights #CommunityEngagement #UtrechtCity

The general context in which the European University Association’s Strategic Plan ‘Europe’s Universities Shaping the Future’, was developed has shifted, in some respects dramatically so. As such, this document provides an overview of EUA’s main achievements since the publication of the Strategic Plan in 2020. As European universities and EUA itself operate in an extremely dynamic, uncertain, and challenging landscape, this review attests to the continued relevance of the Association’s four leading actions: Effective Advocacy, Horizon Scanning, European Solidarity, and Enabling Enhanced Performance. Finally, it demonstrates how the Association has addressed these strategic priorities in view of transformative processes and offers an outlook on key actions for the coming years: https://bit.ly/3weAdgl

Alhamdulillah Completed this course on Human Rights for Open Societies from Utrecht University, Netherlands. This course focused on how the societies can be brought together and more of assimilation of different segments of society into one bigger society. It also explained the core democratic values which are must for a society which considers itself to be a democracy. It is designed to explain European convention on Human rights and how it shall be interpreted along with it's application over 47 European countries, it also explores the functioning and jurisdiction of European court which have jurisdiction to decide cases brought to it from these 47 countries. It also explains the interconnectedness of human rights and European convention. A course that will equip the student with everything important to know about the European convention and it's application.

I have to be grateful to the project coordinator Professor Dr. Slinko Dmytro, Professor Fernando de Brito Alves, Professor Jairo Néia Lima,my friends for including me as part of teaching team.#JeanMonnet #humanrights #protection The European Commission has approved the international project, Module Jean Monnet 101175954 - PROTECTIVE-EU - ERASMUS-JMO-2024-HEI-TCH-RSCH, titled "The Human Rights Protection of Vulnerable Groups According to EU External and Internal Policies." This module is designed to explore the critical aspect of protecting the human rights of vulnerable groups within the framework of European Union (EU) policies, with a particular focus on inclusivity and social justice. The course aims to address the unique challenges faced by these populations, emphasizing the intersection of EU policies and human rights protection.The "Protection of Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups According to The EU Policy" module seeks to enhance academic understanding and practical application of EU policies regarding the rights of vulnerable populations. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach, equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in the discourse on this crucial aspect of European governance.Central to this project is the principle that protecting human rights is fundamental to the EU's core values and essential for fostering an inclusive and equitable society. The module provides a comprehensive examination of human rights protection for vulnerable groups within the EU policy framework, bridging the gap between policy formulation and practical implementation. This aligns with the EU's commitment to equality, justice, and the well-being of all its citizens.Congratulations to the esteemed working group for their remarkable achievement in winning the international project competition under the Jean Monnet Module program, securing funding from the European Commission of the EU.This prestigious recognition highlights the group's dedication and expertise in advancing legal education and research, particularly in the area of human rights protection for vulnerable groups. Their success is a testament to their commitment to excellence and their contributions to the global academic community.

I strongly believe that scientists have an obligation to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles in how they conduct science. In 2022, I started a journal club in the Fraser lab centered around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within academia, specifically in the biological sciences. My goal was to create an environment for continued learning, critical discussion, and brainstorming action items that individuals and labs can implement. After each journal club, the discussion leader summarized the discussions and proposed action items in a blog post (https://lnkd.in/gNb54QVd). The discussions and proposed interventions reflect the participants' own opinions based on their own personal identities and lived experiences, and may differ from the identities and experiences of others. We decided to share our insights and ideas publicly as a way of holding ourselves accountable and to encourage other scientists to engage with DEIJ practitioners and their scholarship. Following extensive conversations with Stephanie Wankowicz, PhD and colleagues, we decided to write an article titled "Ten recommendations for hosting a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) journal club." By providing a framework for scientists to engage with DEIJ scholarship, we hope that more research groups will take the first step toward understanding how bias and discrimination persist in academia and what role we all play in creating more inclusive and equitable spaces within STEM academia. We welcome discussion and constructive feedback on our article. https://lnkd.in/g6xvU9AH

Today, Chiara Bonacchi (University of Edinburgh) invited me to gave a lecture on the application of indicators and methods for applying an intersectional and caregiving perspective in the development of cultural heritage projects, with special emphasis on the analysis of social media and digital environments. This lecture took place in their amazing programme on " Cultural Heritage Futures" https://lnkd.in/druc3zaK It is fascinating how much we can learn about local communities and heritage through their activism in social media. Adding a lens of care and intersectional perspective can always help us design fairer research scenarios, connecting people and researchers to real challenges. Making our research intersectional involves creating research frameworks based on the experiences, processes, and agencies of "the others." This knowledge is crucial for incorporating heritage-led proposals into the broader context of social sustainability. This can pose a challenge, particularly when those generating the discourse have strong ties to the recent past and a deeply personal perspective on it. In this vein, it is very interesting to explore, from an agency standpoint, where marginalizations occur in the realm of digital knowledge; that is, where in the flows intersectional issues operate and how, when, where, what, and whose data are invisibilized. In my view, looking at how the ethics of care and an intersectional investigation of context are used in social science and humanities projects is important for 1) Making sure that our academic and expert strategies for managing cultural heritage are socially landed 2) Prevent the perpetuation of inequalities stemming from power abuse and authoritarian discourses; and, moreover, 3) cultivate practices that enhance the sustainability of a research project in cultural heritage. In this vein Loes Veldpaus academic works, among others, have been very inspiring. It has been a pleasure to learn from the students' questions and to be able to discuss how to intervene in public policy with these lenses. These premises will be very present in the projects that we will be developing from the Collections Department. #Intersectionality #EthicsOfCare #Caregiving #CriticalHeritageStudies #IntersectionalPerspective #CulturalHeritageManagement #DigitalHumanities

Big news! We are delighted to announce that members of Uppsala University are partnering with larp practitioners and academics in a new EU-funded project in Horizon Europe, 'Larpocracy: Developing Spaces for Deliberation and Democratic Skills through Role-playing'. UU's Informatics and Media, Political Science, and the Transformative Play Initiative at Department of Game Design - Uppsala University are participating. Larpocracy aims to promote democratic engagement and political expression through live-action role-playing (larp). The project, which runs from January 2025 to December 2027, involves university partners: Uppsala University, Tampere University, and University of Greenwich. The universities are partnering with four larp and art production companies: Europe 4 Youth, LARPifiers, Chaos League, and ZU-UK. The project is coordinated by Uppsala University primarily by Annika Waern. The project addresses the declining engagement in traditional democracy and the limitations of social media in fostering civil discourse. Using larp as a platform, the project hopes to create inclusive and democratic social spaces, both online and offline, where young people can develop important democratic skills such as deliberation. The project will investigate the effectiveness of larps in cultivating these skills, explore festival spaces as potential sites for future democratic skill-building, and use larp-like activities in an art-based intervention with underprivileged communities in Belem, Brazil as a case study. The goal is to provide recommendations for designers and policy-makers on how best to leverage larp as a tool for democratic engagement. Full website and more info in the coming months. #HorizonEurope #larpocracy #chaosleague #larpifiers #europe4youth #uppsalauniversity #tampereuniversity #universityofgreenwich #democracy #larp #roleplaying