Academia and human rights
Academia, especially universities, play an increasing role in the field of human rights through human rights education and human rights research. This working paper explores the position and the role of academia in the National Human Rights System (NHRS). The paper focuses on three main types of activities: human rights education, human rights research coupled with the dissemination of knowledge and outreach to other actors of the NHRS.
The paper builds on an overview of the scarce literature related to the role of academia in the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as on practical experiences with academic institutions, research programmes, development aid projects, etc.).
In order to analyse the role of academia in the protection and promotion of human rights, this working paper will first take a holistic view of the shifting position and role of universities in the wider society in various context (1) and on academic freedom as a very specific characteristic of the work of Academia (2). It will then look into the overall role of Academia within the NHRS (3). Finally, the working paper will focus on how to strengthen the role of academia in developing countries’ contexts through supporting human rights education, human rights research and reaching out to other actors of the NHRS (4). In this respect, it will look into the capacity building of academia (institutions and researchers) in development aid projects.
This working paper is part of the work carried out with the Danish Institute for Human Rights' Human Rights Systems (HRS) department on conceptualising the Institute's programmes and project work with state actors of the National Human Rights System and presenting the methods used by the Institute in its work through the development of a Concepts and Methods HRS Toolbox for staff and partners.
Authors
Stéphanie Lagoutte, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Danielle Soskin, former Intern at the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Head of Youth Co-Creation at Project Billion (danielle.j.soskin@gmail.com).
MATTERS OF CONCERN is a working paper series focusing on new and emerging research on human rights across academic disciplines. It is a means for DIHR staff, visiting fellows and external researchers to make available the preliminary results of their research, work in progress and unique research contributions. Research papers are published under the responsibility of the author alone and do not represent the official view of the Danish Institute of Human Rights.
We strive to make the pdf versions of our publications etc. accessible for screen readers. If you experience any problems, please contact Digital Editor Stine Juhl Nielsen on stni@humanrights.dk