History of the Global Campus
"Human rights education has been one of the main drivers of change since the beginning of the democratisation wave. For this purpose, at least two interrelated elements are needed: an adequate level of knowledge and the ability to operationalise it under specific social conditions.
To respond to these interrelated needs at the university level, the European Union decided more than 20 years ago to support the training of young human rights professionals, first in Europe, then in other world regions."
Dzidek Kedzia — Global Campus Honorary President, December 2020
Overview
The Global Campus of Human Rights is the result of nearly three decades of vision, collaboration, and expansion in the field of human rights higher education, supported by the European Union.
While officially established as a global network in 2019, its origins trace back to 1996, when the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (EMA) was launched under the leadership of Prof. Antonio Papisca at the University of Padua. This innovative, inter-university initiative aimed to train postgraduate students from across the EU in human rights theory and practice, responding to the growing demand for skilled professionals in humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, and development.
The success of EMA led to the formation of the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) in 2002, headquartered at the Monastery of San Nicolò in Venice. EIUC became the institutional home of EMA and the nucleus of a growing educational movement.
Inspired by EMA’s model, similar Master’s programmes were soon developed in other regions worldwide, fostering a global network of regional hubs.
Eight sister programmes, one shared mission
GC Europe
In addition to the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (EMA), established in 1997 in Venice, the Global Campus currently includes seven other regional programmes.
GC Africa
The Master’s Programme (LLM) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA), established in 2000 at the University of Pretoria under the leadership of late Christof Heyns and Frans Viljoen, and awarded the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education in 2006.
GC South-East Europe
The European Regional Master’s Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe (ERMA), coordinated since 2006 by the Universities of Sarajevo and Bologna under the leadership of late Zdravko Grebo and Stefano Bianchini.
GC Latin America and Caribbean
The Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LATMA) launched at the University of San Martín (UNSAM) in Buenos Aires in 2010.
GC Asia-Pacific
The Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Asia-Pacific (APMA) established at Mahidol University in Bangkok in 2010.
GC Caucasus
The Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in the Caucasus (CES) launched at Yerevan State University in 2010.
GC Arab World
The Arab Master’s Programme in Democracy and Human Rights (ARMA), started in 2015 as a collaboration of EMA, Ca’ Foscari University, and partners universities across the Arab region, and later housed by Saint Joseph University in Beirut.
By 2012, the European Commission designated EIUC as the umbrella organisation for these programmes, paving the way for its transformation into the Global Campus of Human Rights, officially adopted in 2019.
GC Central Asia
In 2023, an eight programme was established in Central Asia: the Master of Arts in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS) hosted by the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
A network of network in human rights higher education
With its current eight regional hubs, what began as a European initiative to promote human rights education has evolved into a globally recognised platform for academic cooperation, capacity-building, and policy engagement. Beyond the Master’s programmes, the Global Campus now engages in: training for professionals and human rights defenders; e-learning courses; research and publication projects; collaborative work with civil society, governments, and international organisations.
The Global Campus has helped legitimise human rights education (HRHE) as a standalone academic and professional field. Its cross-regional, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented approach fosters a deeper understanding of global challenges through local perspectives and comparative learning.
