Isotta Esposito

The Press Office of the Global Campus of Human Rights had the opportunity to interview the 2024 Right Livelihood Laureate Forensic Architecture about their role as activists, their findings and their aims.   Please share with us about your background and role advocating for uncovering and documenting the truth about environmental and human rights violations using cutting-edge technology?    Forensic Architecture (FA) is a research group based at Goldsmiths, University of London. Our mandate is to develop, employ, and disseminate new techniques, methods, and concepts for investigating state and corporate violence. As to our backgrounds: we are an interdisciplinary team, and our teams are made up of architects, software developers, filmmakers, investigative journalists, scientists, and lawyers. We are a highly interdisciplinary team, operating across human rights, journalism, architecture, art and aesthetics, academia and the law in pursuit of accountability for rights violations.   Our practice was born in the ‘open source revolution’, and still today, our core practice involves geolocating and analysing videos and images within navigable 3D digital models, alongside open source research and a range of methodologies, drawing from software development, interactive cartographies, ‘remote sensing’ and satellite image analysis, fluid dynamics simulation, and witness interviewing. Visit our website – forensic-architecture.org – and you’ll get a sense of how all of these things fit together!   We always try to work directly with and for the survivors, victims, and witnesses of human rights violations, to ensure that our research and advocacy – whether in the media, in courts, in art galleries, or in any other forums – are oriented by the ‘lived experience’ of those groups, and that our work supports their claims for accountability and transparency in relation to the harms they have suffered. We are privileged to have the space and resources to develop and experiment with a pioneering set of research methods and practices, and it is our goal to put them into the service of the claims and demands of individuals, families, and communities around the world who may not have the same privileges.   How was being recognised as Right Livelihood Award 2024 and how did it help with your activities and mission to boost urgent and long-term social change?   It’s a little bit early to say how the award has supported our long-term ambitions for social change. Unfortunately, the field of human rights is facing some serious headwinds at present; the landscape in which FA operates looks very challenging, and things are likely to get harder in the short term for any organisations who call for – fight for – truth, justice, and accountability. But being in Stockholm at the award ceremony, meeting so many remarkable fellow laureates – not just Anabela, Joan, and Issa, but many laureates of previous years – was a very powerful, strengthening experience for all of us. One of our friends in attendance at the award ceremony said to us, ‘this is the place I come to every year, to fill myself up again with hope for the year ahead’. And by the end of a wonderful few days in Stockholm, in the company of the Right Livelihood team, we could really see what they meant. Hope can sometimes be a hard thing to find these days, and we are grateful to have found more of it there.   How are you benefiting with all this visibility? How are you helping victims and survivors? How could we support your causes?    We are sure that the visibility afforded to us by the Right Livelihood Award will be important in supporting our work in the long-term. Already, we have been heard from institutions across the landscape of human rights and social justice seeking to collaborate, to hear from us and to exchange learning, and suggesting avenues through which to find new partners, and new supporters – including financial support, which is of course fundamental, and increasingly hard to secure in these times of shrinking civic spaces. We are already seeing how the reputation of the Right Livelihood Award shines so brightly, acting as a beacon to other activists and rights advocates.   As we grow into our new position as laureates, and grow into this new family, we expect to see more benefits. To be plugged into this network of almost 200 remarkable laureates – among them, some of the individuals and groups in the modern history of human rights whose example has guided our own work and history – is not only an honour but an incredible resource, and we look forward to hosting fellow laureates as they pass through London and Berlin (where our sister agency Forensis e.V has its home), exchanging ideas, and learning from their experience.   What is your opinion on the importance of human rights education in the field of investigating the past to bring truth, justice and accountability?  What are the most important challenges ahead in the field of Human Rights and Democracy in the world? Could educational programmes like ours at the Global Campus of Human Rights contribute to create a safe space for discussion on these challenges?    With the second inauguration of President Trump, rightward political shifts across the globe, and a deeply fragmented public sphere, we are entering one of the most challenging periods for human rights, for public truth, and for international law, since the end of the second world war. As a field, we will require every piece of support and good fortune that we can find, as we continue the fight to protect fundamental values, rights, and human dignity. Education has to be at the heart of that, of course, and for that reason, the work that the Global Campus does is essential: to nurture and empower future generations of human rights practitioners, to equip the human rights sector for the challenges of tomorrow and, hopefully, to train the Right Livelihood laureates of the future. We’re delighted to be connected to the GCHR as it continues that vital work, and we look forward to

The students of the Global Campus Europe are proud to present the 14th edition of the Venice Human Rights Film Festival. Sponsored by Right Livelihood, the festival is set to take place on 13 and 14 December in Teatrino Groggia, Cannaregio, 30121, Venice, Italy. United by our commitment to advancing human rights and democracy worldwide, the festival focuses on children’s rights, especially highlighting the experiences of those growing up amid conflict. We invite you to explore powerful stories of children from across the globe who, despite facing conflict and adversity, embody resilience and hope.   >> This years festival will run on Friday 17:30-23:00 and Saturday 11:00-14:00 and 16:30-00:00 <<     This year’s theme captures the universal longing for a brighter future, while also giving voice to children’s perspectives in various contexts of struggle. In a world where many young lives are impacted by displacement, violence, and instability, Ma Quanto Manca? Stories of Conflict and Resilience in Childhood shines a light on the strength of children navigating these challenges. From personal narratives to community stories, join us as we amplify these voices and examine the global impact of conflict on childhood. Exploring children’s rights through the eyes of children themselves, the festival will be divided into three questions commonly asked in childhood: Ma Perché?, Dove Andiamo?, and Siamo Arrivati?   ‘Ma Perché?’ focuses on the theme of questioning, and will host movies that question the very essence of child rights issues by posing existential and contextual questions. Films about activism and stories of those who question the established rules will also be featured in this section. Friday 13th December offers a screening of Obaida, which focuses on childhood in armed conflict and intergenerational trauma. We are also delighted to be screening Caging Childhood: Palestinian Children in Israel’s Military Detention System which focuses on children in detention and growing up amid conflict. These impactful films will be followed by a Q and A with Director of  the organisation Defence for Children International (DCI) Ayed Abu Eqtiash. Finally, Friday evening will close with a screening of 20,000 species of bees, focusing on LGBT+ rights in childhood, and the search for identity.     ‘Dove Andiamo?’ will feature films about movement, evolution and the future horizons that human rights envision. Throughout this section, topics such as climate, peace processes, refugees and migration, and post-conflict societies will be covered. Saturday 14th December, promises a morning dedicated to children and youth from 11:00-14:00, featuring films tailored for the younger audience. Following on from our child-centred activity sessions, we will be screening Iqbal. Bambini senza paura which focuses on children at the frontline of the economic and climate crisis.     Finally, and perhaps the most famous children’s question, ‘Siamo Arrivati?’ will reflect on challenges and possible changes: are we at the end of something? Is there a possibility to change? This section will focus on breaking the cycle of violence, exploitation and generational trauma. Saturday evening will feature two powerful films that focus on forced migration and detention during childhood. Mogoneba; Recuerdo de un viaje narrates the journey of a mother and daughter forced to leave their native country to travel across Europe by land until they reach Barcelona. Nothing About Us Without Us documents the fires that destroyed Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos, and follows with a Q and A involving members of the organisation Refocus Media Labs, focusing on filmmaking as a tool of advocacy for children in migration detention.     We are also delighted to welcome Alef Zero, to perform on Saturday evening from 22:30, providing us with some incredible jazz fusion to close out the festival. The festival is free entry and open to all, and the venue will be fully accessible. Be sure to follow us on instagram and check out our website to keep up to date with announcements on films to come!     For more information please visit the website: emafilmfestival2024.squarespace.com Instagram: ema_filmfestival Email: emafilmfestival24@gmail.com Media requests: pressoffice@gchumanrights.org – Isotta Esposito

Admissions to the 2025/2026 edition of the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation are open!    Application deadlines: 2 February 2025    The European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (EMA) is one of the eight Regional Master’s Programmes organised by the Global Campus of Human Rights. EMA was created with the support of the European Union and 43 universities from all EU member states, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.    COURSE DESCRIPTION  EMA is a one-year advanced master’s course aimed at educating professionals in the field of human rights and democratisation. The Master’s degree offers an action- and policy-oriented approach to learning that combines legal, political, historical, anthropological, and philosophical perspectives with skill-building activities., In the first semester in Venice students pursue in-depth study of the following areas: Human Rights Institutions, Mechanisms and Standards; Human Rights in Context: Historical, Philosophical, Religious and Anthropological Perspectives; Globalisation, Development and Human Rights; Building and Protecting Democracy; Human Rights, Peace and Security. In the second semester, students are hosted by one of our participating universities, and prepare a research thesis and follow courses offered by the host university. This approach provides both a broad education on human rights and democratisation issues, as well as amply opportunity to specialise on areas of specific interest to the student.     EMA provides the foundation for a career in national, international, governmental, inter-governmental and nongovernmental organisations, as well as academic institutions dealing with human rights and democratisation.      COURSE PROGRAMME  EMA is both a residential and an exchange programme. The first semester, from September to January, is organised at Global Campus Headquarters in Venice and the second semester, from February to July, takes place in one of the 43 participating universities. The multidisciplinary EMA Programme includes lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, skill-building sessions, experiential learning and individual research.      HOW TO APPLY  EMA is open to EU and non-EU citizens. The criteria adopted during the selection process are academic ability and background, relevant additional academic work, courses or publications, relevant practical experience, motivation and language competence. Applicants are required to hold a university degree of a high standard in a field relevant to human rights, including disciplines in Law, Social Sciences and Humanities, and must have a minimum of 180 ECTS (Bachelor/General Degree). Certified fluency in English is an admission requirement to the programme.      COURSE FEE AND EXPENSES  The tuition fee for the academic year 2025/2026 is €6450.00, payable in instalments.  Tuition fees cover all EMA courses, both in the first and second semester; reading materials for the first semester; tutoring; access to Global Campus’ specialised library; lunch on class and exam days; individual access to our e-learning platform; use of available IT facilities (including wireless area and computer room), and the field trip (subject to final budgetary approval).    The tuition fee does not cover accommodation and subsistence, travel costs to and from partner universities and visa expenses.      ENROLMENT DOCUMENTS  The following documents shall be enclosed with the application:  – Transcript of records and degree diploma  – Curriculum vitae  – Two reference letters (preferably one academic and one professional)  – Copy of passport picture page  – Proof of English language proficiency  – Receipt of payment of the application fee of 50 Euro    More information about EMA, the faculty and the programme can be found at https://emahumanrights.org.