Global Campus of Human Rights Courses

Citizenship and Human Rights Education for Change

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In times of increasing extremism, xenophobia, violence, and radicalisation, it becomes crucial to build the capacity of education personnel, school leaders and education employers, to promote the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, tolerance, equality, human rights and solidarity, through education. Teaching and learning about democratic citizenship, human rights and EU common values is crucial for countering the negative forces of our time and building social inclusion in diverse educational contexts and learning environments. The power of education in this sense is unique and multiple: unique because there is no other environment or tool that touches families, social groups, communities and societies as a whole; multiple because where education is denied, other rights are denied, where it is upheld, other rights prosper.This MOOC aims to foster the promotion of inclusive education, democratic citizenship and human rights through the transfer of knowledge about the definitions, frameworks and content of Human Rights Education as well as the analysis of existing and innovative practices on teaching styles, approaches and methods.  

Child Participation and the Right to a Sustainable Environment

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The increasing visibility of climate action campaigns led by young activists strongly indicates that our attention must not be diverted from the environmental emergency that is undermining children’s rights and future prospects around the world. Discussions in these areas typically revolve around the types of children's rights that are most at risk and the protection of children and young people from the harmful effects of climate change and a degraded environment. The call of young activists, instead, expresses the need to go a step further by recognising the many links between a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and children’s rights to be heard and participate.Such a stand should not be underestimated, especially if considered in the light of existing frameworks relating to both the environment and children’s rights. Whether we look at children’s rights to health and education, or children’s freedom of association and peaceful assembly, or the increasing calls for the recognition of a right to a healthy environment, international standards indicate that the understanding of environmental concerns, enhanced by the full consciousness of children’s right to participate, may improve not only the quality of children’s lives but also the quality of children’s responsive actions, such of those of youth environmental movements.In this light, recent developments such as UN resolutions, reports and summits or civil society campaigns and calls for legal accountability and redress seem to be a step in the ‘right’ direction and provide an empowering context for initiatives organised by children to defend their environmental rights. However, questions still remain: how many children proactively make use of human rights standards in their action against environmental damage? How can we build on the movement initiated by young climate activists to recognise children as direct agents of change? How can climate action be organised, sustained and deployed in a way that upholds children’s rights and the effective participation of children?This MOOC asks children’s rights experts, environment specialists, human rights scholars and young climate activists to examine concepts, standards and practices of rights-based participation of children in environmental matters. Through free and open access to current knowledge and debates, the course speaks to a worldwide audience - and young people specifically - to inform those who are seeking human rights guidance, encourage those who are curious to know more, support those who are already acting, and ultimately boost effective change.

Gender-based violence in the context of migration

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Forced marriage and domestic abuse can be a driver of migration for women and girls. Being subject to violence is also a major risk along migration routes, where sexual violence is a grave concern. In the destination country, various obstacles can place migrant women and girls more at risk of violence and exploitation, especially those who are undocumented.Addressing the root causes of forced and economic migration and ensuring that the human rights of women and girls are protected throughout the migration process (across countries of origin, transit and destination) are essential steps towards a stronger recognition of their equal dignity and of their roles in fostering a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable human development.The international community has developed over time a set of international and regional instruments that protect women and girls from violence and breaches of their human rights. To what extent do these instruments apply in the context of migration? What are the main challenges and obstacles in this area? And where can we find opportunities for improvements?By answering these questions, this MOOC provides participants with solid knowledge, multiple perspectives and examples of practices applied to a field that is at the crossroads of gender, migration and human rights studies. 

Freedom of Expression

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This course offers an overview of the main challenges in the protection of what can be considered a cornerstone of European democracies: freedom of expression. Taking the protection afforded by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention of Human Rights, the course will guide you through different facets of freedom of expression, showing you how far each citizen may exercise his right but also when the State may legitimately limit the possibility to speak out.The course will consider the protection provided by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in comparison to the European Convention of Human Rights. The course will be complemented by presentations of a variety of cases sourcing from pan European and national courts inviting the learners to put on the judge’s hat and decide on the legal problems emerging from the presented case studies.The course will address in detail the interplay between freedom of expression and Internet technologies, looking at the potential conflicts with other fundamental rights, such as dignity, data protection, and copyright. 

Children's Rights in the EU Charter

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The fundamental rights of children as guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is one of the topics that cuts across legal disciplines giving rise to a broad range of issues. This course aims at providing an overview of these problems.The course takes learners across the general presentation of the varieties of contexts where children’s rights emerge. In doing so, it builds on the guiding principle of the best interest of the child both in the EU and international context. Learners will subsequently explore how rights of the child are shaped in the context of provisions ruling EU citizens and third country citizens in the context of asylum in migration. Finally, children’s rights will be presented within the area of the judicial cooperation in civil matters.This is the third of five e-learning courses offered within the ambit of the e-NACT project, this time delivered by the University of Florence.  

Fundamental Social Rights in the European Union

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This course offers an overview of the main challenges in the protection of social rights, easily one of the most sensitive topics in EU politics. Contrary to other legal systems solely dedicated to the protection of social rights (such as the International Labour Organisation or the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe), the EU has a broader political and economic agenda. Social rights in the EU face several challenges, such as keeping social dumping at bay, reconciling high standard labour markets and social security policies with the stringent post-crisis requirements of the EMU (economic and monetary union), and finding a harmonious balance between worker’s rights and the freedom to conduct business.The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is not always effective when it comes to the social rights it claims to protect. In this course, we will try to detangle the complicated web of EU fundamental social rights protection. We will start with the history and complete the learning process with the present post-crisis European Union.This is the second of five e-learning courses offered within the ambit of the e-NACT project, this time delivered by the Free University Brussels – ULB, and the variety of national institutions offering trainings to judges in the national contexts. 

Asylum and Immigration Detention: the Protection of Fundamental Rights in the European Union

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The course is aimed at providing the audience with knowledge and skills on a very sensitive topic, especially since many migrants moving from third countries to Member States are in vulnerable conditions. That happens particularly to third country nationals who seek (international) protection on the “territory” of the European Union.The problem is that domestic practice at European level has been showing that many third country nationals undergo fundamental rights breaches by national authorities of the host Member States. Accordingly, this topic deserves to be dedicated a high degree of attention by legal practitioners, with an emphasis on domestic judges. In particular, the course seeks to offer guidelines to enable Member States’ judges to apply relevant EU rules in a consistent way. To achieve this goal, the course focuses on the core rights that have to be recognized and guaranteed to third country nationals when their freedom is restricted for reasons concerning their presence in the host Member State. More precisely, the course serves to identify and clarify the main EU law provisions in this context and to assess them under the lens of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).Therefore, although many EU secondary law provisions are discussed vis à vis the practice of the Member States, the course revolves around the application of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights in the cases concerned. However, with a view to fully capturing the essence of the Charter, consideration will also be given to the standards of protection ensured by the European Convention on Human Rights by means of the European Court of Human Rights, as its case law is most of the times of paramount importance for the ECJ when addressing fundamental rights.  

Children Deprived of Liberty: Learning from the UN Global Study

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Children deprived of liberty are an often invisible and forgotten group who suffer from clear violations of human rights. Frequently placed in inhuman conditions and in adult facilities, they are at heightened risk of violence, rape and sexual assault, as well as torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Not only does such deprivation of liberty damage their physical and psychological development, it also destroys their capacities and opportunities to conduct healthy lives and constructively contribute to society.Despite it being a known phenomenon, data on the number of these children, and on the reasons, length and places of their detention, are still largely lacking. In the same vein, information on good practices and alternative measures, as well as mechanisms for redress, is fragmented. This has important consequences: without a strong knowledge basis and a vigorous protection system, countless children throughout the world risk their human rights, and in some cases their lives, while societies miss out on the participation, ideas and talents that these young people could bring.In this light, the UN Global Study commissioned to Prof. Manfred Nowak is an opportunity to raise awareness about the manifold challenges in this area and to:Assess the magnitude of the occurrence of children deprived of liberty;Document good practices and capture the views and experiences of these children;Promote a change in stigmatizing attitudes and behaviour towards children at risk of being, or who are, deprived of liberty;Provide recommendations for law, policy and practice to safeguard the human rights of the children concerned.To amplify the impact of the Study, this MOOC will offer the opportunity to gain insights on the research, collection, analysis, and final elaboration of information related to specific areas and cross-cutting themes. 

Disability as a human rights issue: global and national perspectives

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Persons with disabilities are frequently marginalized in society and face numerous challenges in the enjoyment of their human rights. In the past such challenges were seen as an unavoidable consequence of their impairments. More recently, the introduction of a human rights-based model of disability has contributed to a shift in perceptions and attitudes.Viewing disability from a human rights standpoint implicates a change in the way States and all sectors of society consider persons with disabilities: no longer as recipients of medical care and charity or objects of others’ decisions, but holders of rights.This free and open to all MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively approach disability from a human rights perspective. Drawing from expertise and examples at the global and national level, it offers a multidisciplinary and multifaceted overview of historical developments, main standards, key issues, and current challenges in this area of human rights protection. 

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights and Data Protection in the European legal framework

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This course will provide an overview of one of the crucial areas of law, namely the right to the protection of personal data and the right to privacy, provided by Articles 8 and 7 of the EU Charter. It will guide you through the different facets of data protection demonstrating the basics of data protection law in the light of primary and secondary EU law. This will not be only a theoretical exercise, as the content of this course is based on the experience gathered through exchanges with legal practitioners at the European and national level. They were asked to share the most insightful cases they dealt with in their practice and their most interesting decisions they encountered or handed down. These became some of the examples that you will find in this course.The course will consider the protection of personal data provided by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a bridge for the judicial dialogue. It will be complemented by presentation of the variety of cases sourcing from pan European and national courts inviting the learners to put on judge’s hats and ruling on the legal problems emerging from the presented case studies. The course will address in detail the interplay between data protection and cross-border digital technologies, paying particular attention to the territorial scope and cross-border data transfers as well as to the potential conflicts with other fundamental rights and interests, such as law enforcement, scientific research and property rights.This is the fourth of five e-learning courses offered within the ambit of the e-NACT project, lead by the European University Institute based Centre for Judicial Cooperation with the participation of European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratization and the variety of national institutions offering trainings to judges in the national contexts.  

Children’s Rights and Technology in the Digital Age

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More often than not, children are seldom considered as target users when the latest and greatest technologies are developed, but in many cases they become target subjects. Digital technologies – such as artificial intelligence software, biometric recognition systems, and algorithmic information silos – have already shifted the dynamic of many homes, classrooms, and multimedia platforms, but is the child’s best interest central to these experiences? This MOOC will take a deep dive into just how often children are exposed to these futuristic, and sometimes problematic, technological developments and investigate what that means for a vulnerable group that may not fully understand the implications – be they positive or negative – or meaning of consent.In Disney World in the United States, children are now required to scan their fingerprints in order to gain access to the rides. With products such as YouTube Kids and Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition being targeted towards children, Smart Toys are being utilized as babysitters. Refugee children are being registered on the blockchain in order to access UN humanitarian aid. We already see China placing robots with facial recognition in their classrooms to read students' faces and determine whether or not they are understanding the day’s lesson. Microchips and bio stamps, including digital tattoos, that measure an array of vital signs are being used to monitor children’s health conditions.There are many questions to consider concerning how these technologies will shape our tangible world, but what about how they shape the minds and behaviors of the coming generations? Due to the rapid evolution of technologies, it is vital to continually analyse and hypothesise the impacts they are having or will have on children. There are not enough questions being asked of those who are developing or allowing (by way of lack of regulation) these technologies to permeate both the public and private spaces. Furthermore, not only is there a wide knowledge gap in relation to children’s rights and technology, but there is a great disconnect between the users and the experts. Better educating the masses about how technology can positively and negatively influence children will create a more informed debate on critical next steps for how we choose to shape the future of our society.By way of a MOOC, we aim to provide a coherent overview of the current discussions, regulations, and known implications of children’s relationships to technology in the digital age. We also aim to close the gap in knowledge and a lack of accessibility of existing knowledge to a wider audience. Through a human rights approach, this project will play a role in promoting a more ethical, human-centric, and accessible tech-infused future, considering the coming generations may not have a say in what they have inherited. It is critical that we call attention to this issue now, while we still have the ability to moderate technological implementation as it continually seeps into our everyday lives. We want to challenge the diverse audience of our MOOC to be critical consumers and informed advocates for children’s rights in the digital age. 

Children Deprived of Liberty: Enacting the Recommendations of the UN Global Study

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In 2019 the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty drew the world’s attention to an appalling reality: more than seven million children worldwide are deprived of liberty every year. Still a conservative estimate, this figure stands in direct contrast to the requirement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which clearly states that the detention of children shall be used only as a measure of last resort -- that is, only in exceptional circumstances, on a case-by-case basis, if non-custodial solutions are not available or appropriate.Although some progress has already been achieved in recent years, and some promising practices bode well for the future, much more needs to be done. Whether we look at unaccompanied children detained in migration centres or children being charged in the context of counter-terrorism or held prisoners as child soldiers in the context of armed conflict, their numbers and their living conditions are still unacceptable under the standards set out in the CRC. Moreover, they unfortunately share a similar fate with millions of other children. Indeed, in addition to the cases in the administration of justice, deprivation of liberty still occurs also for children living with imprisoned caregivers or in institutions of all kinds, including institutions for children with disabilities.The UN Global Study has not only provided an assessment on the standing of children’s deprivation of liberty in such a range of contexts, but also - very importantly - set out clear recommendations for change. This roadmap is an inspiration for new laws, policies, and practices that can help States dramatically reduce the number of children behind bars and locked doors. Keeping the conversation going and monitoring the enactment of the recommendations is key to ensure that children worldwide are no longer deprived of their childhood.This MOOC is a complement to a previous Global Campus course on the Global Study and aims at providing updated information on situations, challenges and possible solutions as they are being envisaged in each region of the world. Hearing from experts, researchers, and children themselves, participants will learn about steps being taken in terms of deinstitutionalisation, diversion, ending migration-related detention and other measures.

Business and Human Rights

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When Kofi Annan initiated the United Nations (UN) Global Compact with business leaders, he aspired to “give a human face to the global market”. It was the turn of the Millennium and the call was to make a conscious choice between words and deeds, poverty and profit, social justice and social inequalities.Much has changed since: in 2005 a Special Representative of the Secretary General was appointed to identify and clarify issues surrounding corporate responsibility and accountability vis-à-vis human rights; in 2011 the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) proposing the “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework. Successive initiatives and mechanisms at the UN level have included working groups, expert fora, treaty bodies’ General Comments and joint initiatives with regional organisations. At the national level, a number of states have announced or introduced legislative proposals for mandatory human rights due diligence by companies, which adds explicit legal duties to the “smart mix” of measures recommended in the UNGP. In this context, the EU Parliament’s interest on Human rights due diligence legislation and options for the EU is to be noted. Last but not least, various lawsuits addressing human rights violations related to labour conditions or environmental impact have also been part of advances in this area worldwide.Despite increased attention on risks and adverse impacts of business operations on human rights, and the development of guidelines, initiatives and case-law, many challenges and obstacles are still hampering that desired progress on the choices to be made. Examples of workers in terribly risky environments, women trafficked in the supply chains, or migrants exploited for profit are still numerous. In addition, there are other ways in which businesses harm human rights: in the last five years, over 2000 attacks took place against human rights defenders working on businesses-related abuses; in 2018, more than three people were murdered each week for defending their land and our environment; today, about 108 million defenseless children still work in the agricultural sector, often in dangerous conditions and under limited socially responsible regulation by enterprises.In this light, business and human rights are still often in opposition: companies hardly value the human toll of their profitable production. Governments often fail to protect business-related human rights defenders. But responsible businesses can prevent potential damages and offer space for accountability and redress. States regulations and policies can shape business behaviour and help ensure human rights protection. Recent promising initiatives can foster transformation. If business and human rights actors understood better how they could support each other, change would be more feasible.This MOOC is a contribution to such understanding. It looks at international standards and principles as well as regional and national practices. In particular, it focuses on the links between business and human rights defenders, case-law, due diligence and children’s rights protection in this area. It aims to be relevant for businesses themselves, state representatives, grassroot organisations working on business related issues, workers and ordinary citizens who wish to inspire a transformation in the way business and human rights relate to each other.

Socio-Economic Justice through Human Rights

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In recent decades, we have witnessed a multitude of increasingly urgent demands for social and economic justice whereby every human being should have equal access to health, well-being, wealth and opportunity. If “the age of rights” propelled some hopes in that direction, a series of recent global crises (financial, environmental, socio-political and medical) have instead propelled anxiety, reinforced inequalities, inflamed cleavages and negatively affected economic growth and social development. We take the view that it is in times of crisis that human rights become more important and transformative. Far from being resolved, the current crises actually offer the opportunity to reclaim a fundamental role for the promotion, protection and implementation of human rights. From equality between women and men to dignified living and working conditions, from social movements to attempts at radical participatory democracy, from social protection to education, many are the areas where a rights-based approach - and socio-economic rights in particular - can and should intertwine with economic and social justice. Good practices and case-law already exist that call for a more attentive study of how social and economic justice can be enhanced through human rights.This MOOC explores current developments in implementing economic and social rights and their role in redressing unjust distribution of resources and powers. It looks at legal frameworks and current political, social and economic challenges to better understand their links with a rights-based approach to socio-economic justice. Through regional examples and case studies, it provides a global overview of difficulties and obstacles but also possible alternatives and solutions. 

Promoting and Protecting Human Rights: a Global Overview

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Human rights are an inherent part of every individual. They are the outcome of long struggles and achievements. Responding to the necessity to counter - and in the future prevent - the tragic effects of genocide, war, economic depression, nationalism and colonialism, they were engraved in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as "a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations". Then, they carried the hope for freedom, justice and peace in the world. Today, they are often questioned, attacked, dismissed and violated. But they still stand to remind us that “we are all born equal and free in dignity and rights”.Promoting and protecting human rights is yet a work in progress. Much still needs to be done, but we can build on the concrete improvements and achievements that human rights have already allowed over the years. We can defend cases, advocate for change and bring about progress on the basis of legal instruments and mechanisms: laws, institutions, courts. We can face challenges with the strength of the benefits that have been demonstrated around the world: greater freedom and democracy; better health, education, and standards of living. To continue our efforts, we need information, education, awareness and action. This course provides you with a solid basis to understand, know and stand up for human rights.