Human rights as our responsibility at the core of the 3rd edition of the Venice School of Human Rights and Democratisation

The EIUC Venice School of Human Rights opened on 28 June 2012 with a welcome speech by Prof. Florence Benoit-Rohmer (EIUC Secretary General and Scientific Coordinator of the Venice School) and was followed by a spritz party to initiate the participants to this Venice tradition.

Prof. Zdzislaw Kedzia introduced the theme of the Venice School Human Rights as our Responsibility and Mr. Jean-Louis Ville (Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid) explained the role of the European Union in terms of EU's Responsibility as a regional entity, as a donor, and as the EIDHR manager.

Participants were divided into three clusters: Business and Human Rights (Cluster responsible: Prof. Menno Kamminga); Development and Human Rights (Cluster Responsible: Prof. Dr. Zdzislaw Kedzia) and (Cluster Responsible: Prof. Stelios Perrakis).

Students were invited, according to the specific programme of each cluster, to debate on challenging human rights issues as well as to participate in a moot court and in a simulation of negotiation between Governments, UN Bodies and Civil Society. Moreover, among the results achieved by the students was also the development of practical aid programmes related to single countries used as examples.

The Faculty included internationally recognised high level experts in the field of human rights such as Prof. Eric David, Mr. Martyn Day, Prof. Jan Eijsbout, Mr. Christopher Gosnell, Mr. Ryszard Komenda, Prof. Stephen Marks, Dr. Maria-Daniella Marouda, Mr. Craig Mokhiber and Mr. Jennifer Zerk. (Read here the presentation of the Faculty members).

This third edition of the Venice School saw also the surprise guitar concert by Georges Mastorakis, which the students warmly enjoyed. The School ended on 7 July 2012 with the delivery of certificates of attendance to the participants.

Click here to learn more about the Venice School

Participants of the Venice School of Human Rights 2012