University Course with Social Innovation and Human Rights at the Centre
Do you want to help us come up with innovative ideas that will support human rights defenders globally? We are looking for students who are interested in developing ideas and projects that put human rights at the centre and increase the protection of our partners around the world.
In collaboration with Linköping University, Civil Rights Defenders has partnered with InGenious – an international development platform that arranges a unique cross disciplinary course on real-life challenges. InGenious is one of the ‘Challenge Based Innovation and Learning’ initiatives of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
Students who enrol in the course are tasked with coming up with solutions to challenges presented by different actors and companies. They work in multi-disciplinary teams to co-develop ideas to real-life problems. As one of the InGenious Partners, Civil Rights Defenders will present the students with a challenge that focuses on human rights and their defenders. We hope this will lead to increased security and efficiency of human rights defenders all around the world.
Background
Many human rights defenders and organisations rely heavily on communicating the human rights issues they are facing to put pressure on duty bearers, provide alternative information and to advocate support. They do this through for example independent media, social media channels, submitting reports and statements to international bodies and organs, through independent organisations and their platforms and during peaceful protests.
When human rights defenders monitor and document human rights abuses and represent victims of human rights violations, they are often threatened and attacked to stay silent. Many human rights defenders that Civil Rights Defenders partner with are also operating in hidden networks, or underground. Yet, they continue their work despite the risks of harassment, smear campaigns, arrest and detention and in the worst cases, disappearances and murder.
Challenge
In order to support those who fight for human rights, we need to be both creative and innovative. We want to make sure that human rights defenders can continue their work, both safely and efficiently. We are looking for ideas and projects that put human rights at the centre, ensuring protection and security for those who fight for our rights.
The InGenious Cross Disciplinary Project course runs during the autumn of 2020. Study language is English, and students earn 8 credits when completing the course.
Learn more about the InGenious course and how to apply here.
