Global Campus Classroom 2018 on “The Influence of Diaspora on Democracy-Building Processes: Behavioural Diversity”

On 23 April 2018 at 10 am, the sixth edition of the Global Classroom entitled “The Influence of Diaspora on Democracy-Building Processes: Behavioural Diversity” will open at the Academic Council hall of the Yerevan State University. The aim of the Global Classroom is to gather students and experts from seven regional master’s programmes in Human Rights and Democratisation to create a unique international forum of discussion on human rights and democracy issues through key note speeches, presentations, practical seminars and debates.

This event, free and open to the public, will reveal stories and examples of the role of diaspora communities across different regions. Diasporas have become important and visible players both on the global stage and for their homeland countries. The influence of Diasporas includes a wide range of global and national issues such as conflict and peace building, advocacy, economic development, policymaking, democratic governance etc.

Among different communities who had to flee their country, Armenians are a strong, vibrant diaspora with over eight million Armenians living in over 85 countries. Armenians across the globe will observe the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day on 24 April. On this occasion and as part of the events featured in the Global Classroom week (23-27 April) and of the GC MOOC on Memory Sites and Human Rights, a visit will be organised to the Tsitsternakaberd Memorial with an interview to a representative of the Museum.

The Global Classroom 2018 is jointly organized by the Yerevan State University and the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights within the framework of the Global Campus of Human Rights, a network of seven regional master’s programmes in Human Rights based in Africa (Pretoria), Arab World (Beirut), Asia Pacific (Bangkok), Caucasus (Yerevan), Europe (Venice), South East Europe (Bologna/Sarajevo) and Latin America (Buenos Aires). 

In addition to the students and representatives from Global Campus of Human Rights, the event will feature experts from Africa - Dr Sabelo Gumedze, Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on people of African descent, South East Europe – Reuf Bajrovic, Co-founder of the new civically-oriented party ‘’Civic Alliance’’ in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ms Ilona Ter-Minasyan, Head of International Migration Organisation Office in Armenia. State representatives, international and non-governmental organisations, think tanks, diplomatic corps, the EU Delegation, Ministries of Diaspora and various diaspora organisations will be also invited to be present at the event.