The exchange began with a reference to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training (2011), which frames human rights education (HRE) as being about, through, and for human rights, a framework that has become a global standard in policymaking, academia, and civil society.
The Global Campus has adopted this comprehensive approach in its eight regional master’s programmes, with regular curriculum updates to reflect the evolving landscape of human rights. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and values needed to promote human rights in the classroom, the workplace, and the community—no small task in an era where values narratives can be used against human rights.
Reflecting on 30 Years of Progress in Human Rights Education
Elena Ippoliti brought valuable insights as a senior practitioner in global human rights education. She reflected on the significant progress made over the past three decades, beginning with the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995–2004), which catalysed global awareness and action. The Global Campus made an early contribution with the launch of its first European Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation in 1997—one of the first such programmes globally.
Since then, globally HRE has seen growth in standard-setting (including the adoption of UN Declaration in 2011, building on treaty commitments such as in the CRC), initiatives to encourage national implementation (such as the the World Programme for Human Rights Education), development of textbooks and resources, as well as institution building, with new organisations specifically devoted to HRE being created or strenghtened.
Building for the Present and Future
Echoing the recent UN’s vision on human rights, which states that “stepping up availability of human rights education is critical”, Elena Ippoliti stressed the importance of HRE as a means of empowering individuals and strengthening the human rights movement. She highlighted the focus on children and youth of the fifth phase (2025–2029) of the UN World Programme for Human Rights Education, which prioritises topics such as human rights and digital technologies, environmental justice and climate change, and gender equality—all of which are deeply embedded in the curricula of the Global Campus master’s programmes and training initiatives.
The discussion emphasised the need to connect non-formal human rights education—such as peer-led initiatives by youth movements like the scouts—with academic HRE. GC Europe is currently undertaking research on postgraduate human rights education with initiatives under development. In addition, leveraging its broad network, the Global Campus has the unique ability to reach students and faculty from disciplines not traditionally associated with human rights, as demonstrated by initiatives in multiple member universities. This strategy offers a meaningful way to expand the global human rights movement.
Participants agreed that while human rights education is a global project, it must be contextual and culturally grounded. Effective HRE methodologies must originate from within local cultures and be relevant to their audiences. The Global Campus, with its regional hubs, multicultural faculty, and diverse student body, is uniquely positioned to achieve this without imposing a top-down, external model of human rights education.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of providing human rights defenders with tailored educational tools. The Global Campus has a strong track record in this area, and recent efforts have focused on embedding instructional tools and pedagogical strategies into its master’s curricula. These efforts aim to better prepare students to teach human rights themselves—an area where there is clear potential to do even more.
A Renewed Partnership Between the UN and the Global Campus
To strenghten and innovate this collaboration, the OHCHR and the Global Campus are finalising a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing human rights education, research, and capacity building. This renewed partnership will include joint initiatives in training, student engagement, expert exchanges, and regional cooperation. The MoU also foresees regular coordination meetings and dedicated focal points to ensure consistent collaboration and strategic alignment.
The Global Campus will further participate in a global forum co-organised by OHCHR and the Council of Europe to critically assess progress and challenges in human rights education for youth—more on this soon!
We thank Elena Ippoliti and the OHCHR for this vital exchange and look forward to continuing our shared mission to strengthen human rights education around the world.
Exchange between Global Campus Council members and Elena Ippoliti, 6 May 20205, Venice