Thematic Areas

Learn more about how we integrate our activities in education, research, advocacy, and partnerships around specific key topics.

Core issues and advancements

We are currently concentrating on both transversal and specific thematic areas, including innovative pedagogy in human rights higher education; capacity development in human rights, democratisation and climate justice; children’s rights and child participation; and the intersection of arts and human rights

Educational Approaches to Human Rights Education

We equip our students with the essential skills to work and have an impact in the fields of human rights and democracy in the 21st century. In a complex and pluralistic world, our programme are guided by relevance, interdisciplinarity, and a critical approach.

Capacity Development

We contribute to the affirmation of human rights and sustainable development in developing countries, nations in transition and democracies under pressure. By bridging academia and development cooperation, we assist with tools and skills building, training, and internationalisation.

Photo © UNICEF_UNI43560_LeMoyne

Children's Rights

As a a network in action, we work to elevate the awareness of children’s rights and increase children’s participation in matters that affect their present and future lives. We connect scholars with activists, children and youth, and we foster non-traditional modes of education, research and advocacy

Human Rights Defenders

We support selected academics and researchers facing threats, offering scholarships and resources to continue their work safely. We provide a vital lifeline through education and research opportunities, ensuring their work and voices persist.

Arts, Sports and Human Rights

Arts and sports are powerful vehicles for human rights expressions, engagement, and transformation. From performances and visual storytelling to physical endurance and collective actions, both fields offer universal languages that connect people across cultures and backgrounds.

Human Rights Preparedness Blog

Human rights are essential for emergency preparedness. Our blog draws insights from historical and current events to advocate for future readiness, emphasising a rights-based approach.

Asia-Pacific

Breathing inequality: how pregnant women in Punjab bear a hidden human rights burden

12/02/2026

Each winter, smog engulfs Punjab, but its human cost is far from evenly shared. It is worth examining how air pollution disproportionately harms pregnant women, particularly those from marginalised and rural communities, by compounding biological vulnerability with entrenched social and economic inequalities.

Alumni Regional Correspondents

Climate crisis in Latin America: the high cost of government inaction

05/02/2026

Latin America faces escalating negative impacts from climate change, exacerbated by poverty and corruption, yet governments continue to put economic gain above citizens’ needs. It is worth examining the human rights implications of environmental inaction across the region.