The five participants were selected from universities participating in the project (Habib University in Karachi; LUMS in Lahore; U. of Peshawar and U. of Balochistan in Quetta) and joined a highly diverse international community of activists, researchers, journalists, and human rights practitioners at the Global Campus headquarters on Venice Lido.
The seventeenth edition of the Venice School for Human Rights Defenders, running from 14 to 20 June, equipped participants with practical knowledge and advocacy skills to respond to contemporary human rights challenges. Combining academic sessions with interactive workshops, the programme explored topics such as international and regional human rights mechanisms, strategic communication, documentation of human rights violations, evidence collection, digital security, advocacy, and protection strategies for human rights defenders.
Throughout the week, participants engaged with leading academics, practitioners, and human rights experts, while also exchanging experiences with peers from different regions of the world. The programme emphasised practical learning through case studies, simulations, group exercises, and collaborative discussions, enabling participants to reflect on how global human rights standards can be applied within their own local contexts.
The Venice mobility marks another milestone in the collaboration between the Global Campus, UNDP Pakistan, and the partner universities involved in the EU-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project. By connecting Pakistani students with international learning environments and professional networks, the initiative seeks to nurture a new generation of human rights advocates capable of contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan and beyond.
This activity is part of the GC Capacity Development Programme. For more information, contact Adriano Remiddi, Programme Manager, and Vukašin Pajović and Larisa Barbu, Programme Officers, at capacity.development@gchumanrights.org.