Essex Human Rights Centre

28/07/2025

🔍 New Blog Post from the HRC Blog: Sanctions Against a UN Special Rapporteur - What Does It Mean for Human Rights Advocacy?

📰 Read the full blog by Professor Carla Ferstman:

By Prof. Carla Ferstman, Director of the Essex Human Rights Centre As has been widely reported, on 9 July 2025, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the…

14/07/2025

Tailored for activists and professionals, the Human Rights Leadership Lab is designed to empower leaders in the Human Rights sector.

Gain practical skills to:
♦️ Build emotional intelligence and leadership presence
♦️ Learn coaching techniques to motivate your team
♦️ Develop organisational strategies to prevent burnout

Led by Liz Griffin, a Human Rights professional with 25+ years’ experience!

Limited places are available, so apply now to avoid missing out!
👉 Apply now https://essex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b3CHmn9e99nUK3Q
👉 More information https://www.essex.ac.uk/short-courses/human-rights-leadership-lab

02/07/2025

27/06/2025

📢 Applications close 18 July 2025!

Join us at the University of Essex Colchester Campus from 4 - 8 August 2025 for the highly regarded short course on International Law in Armed Conflict.

Presented by the Essex Human Rights Centre and the Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub, this intensive course offers a practical foundation in understanding how international law operates in armed conflict settings.

🔍 Learn from leading practitioners in international human rights and humanitarian law.
⚖️ Explore how the law regulates the conduct of conflict parties, balances military necessity with humanitarian principles, and protects affected populations.
🌍 Gain real-world insights into the challenges faced by professionals working in conflict zones.

This course is ideal for:
✔️ Humanitarian and human rights practitioners
✔️ Government and international agency staff
✔️ Postgraduate students and academics

👉 Apply now: https://www.essex.ac.uk/short-courses/international-law-in-armed-conflict
📩 Questions? Contact: summerschoolsandshortcourses@essex.ac.uk

The Essex Human Rights Centre presents a four day practical development course, taught by leading practitioners in the field of international Human Rights and Armed Conflict. The International Law in Armed Conglict course will be held in person at our Colchester campus, over four days from Tuesday 3...

25/06/2025

📣 Applications now open!

The Human Rights Leadership Lab returns this October with 24 hours of live online training taught by Leadership Coach and Essex Human Rights Centre Fellow Liz Griffin.

Are you a Human Rights Professional looking to take your leadership in the social justice / human rights sector to the next level?
Do you want to develop your self-awareness, self-reflection, self-leadership and individual and collective wellbeing?
If so, this is the ideal course for you!

👉 Find out more and apply now: https://www.essex.ac.uk/short-courses/human-rights-leadership-lab

20/06/2025

📖✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us today for Readings in Solidarity with Refugees and Migrants 🌍

Together, we shared powerful readings of displacement, resilience, and belonging. Whether you read aloud or listened with care, you helped create a space of empathy and connection 💬💙

Huge thanks to the Centre for Migration Studies and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies for helping us bring this moment to life as part of Refugee Week 2025.

Let’s keep amplifying refugee and migrant voices.

19/06/2025

This year’s Annual University of Essex Human Rights Clinic Conference, “On the Frontlines of Global Justice,” brought together students, alumni, and global partners who’ve worked on urgent human rights issues through the Clinic. 🌍✨

Among the inspiring alumni was Noura Shawki, whose journey from Essex to the International Committee of the Red Cross () exemplifies the real-world impact of the Clinic experience. From fieldwork to legal advocacy, Noura reflects on how her time at Essex shaped her path in humanitarian law. ⚖️

📖 Read her story: https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2025/06/18/from-fieldwork-to-legal-advocacy-noura-shawki

13/06/2025

⏳ We’re halfway through the Essex Human Rights Online Summer School 2025!

A sincere thank you to all our delegates for your thoughtful engagement so far and to our incredible instructors for sharing their expertise.

We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation and exploring more key topics in human rights as we head into Week 2.

13/06/2025

📖 Readings in Solidarity with Refugees and Migrants🌍
🗓️ Friday 20 June 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Meet at the Cat Statue, Square 4, University of Essex

As part of Refugee Week 2025, the Essex Human Rights Centre, Centre for Migration Studies, and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies invite you to a special event celebrating the voices and stories of refugees and migrants.

We’ll be reading excerpts from poetry and fiction that reflect on themes of displacement, resilience, and belonging. Whether you’d like to read or listen, your presence is a powerful act of solidarity.

✨ Bring your own reading or choose from our curated selection.
✨ Everyone is welcome - students, staff, and community members alike.

13/06/2025

In a powerful reflection from the 2025 Essex Human Rights Centre Clinic Annual Conference, Essex Law School alumnus Ricardo Villalobos explores the growing threats to academic freedom in Latin America.

📖 Read the blog post: https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2025/06/11/reflections-from-ricardo-villalobos-at-the-2025-human-rights-centre-clinic-annual-conference

10/06/2025

✨ It’s hard to believe it’s already been a week since the Essex Human Rights Centre Clinic Annual Conference 2025! ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us, both in person and online, for the Essex Human Rights Centre Clinic Annual Conference 2025. 💬🌍

From powerful project presentations to thought-provoking panels and alumni stories, the event was a celebration of global collaboration.

09/06/2025

🚀 We’re live! The Essex Human Rights Online Summer School 2025 has officially launched. A warm welcome to everyone joining us for this two-week immersive course in human rights. We’re proud to open this year’s programme with an exclusive session featuring:

🔹 Jessica Jones, Barrister, Matrix Chambers
🔹 Dr Matthew Gillett, Essex Law School

Their perspectives have set a powerful tone for two weeks of insight, exchange, and international engagement.

📅 Interested in joining us next year? Our waiting list for 2026 will be opening soon - stay tuned!

💻 More information - https://www.essex.ac.uk/short-courses/human-rights-summer-school