The GC Research programme on the impact on human rights of foreign debt and economic crises

The aim of this year’s Global Campus research programme is to explore broadly the nexus between foreign debt or economic crisis and human rights. The final research product will be composed of articles from the different Regional Master’s Programmes focusing on a regional perspective related to the impact of debt and /or economic crisis on human rights, or an aspect thereof.

The actuality of research topic is indisputable. Due to the ongoing and worldwide depression, nations are increasingly faced with complex foreign debt crises. The institutions and instruments frequently used to address such situations often impact negatively on the observance, protection and promotion of human rights. Recent developments and new challenges, such as the case of forced ‘defaults’ in Argentina or threatening financial collapse in Greece, demonstrate the need for an adequate international response to debt and economic crisis that also protects and promotes human rights.

Some of the questions which will guide the research work coordinated by Prof. Vahan Bournazian, from the Yerevan State University, are: who the principle actors are and what norms and processes regulate the specific framework that the research wants to address?, what role have the norms and processes played in facilitating or frustrating the primacy of human rights? What is the way forward?

The conclusions and findings of the research programme will be presented during the next edition of the Global Classroom taking place at EIUC in Venice on 11-15 May 2015. The Classroom is one week long seminar/workshop gathering experts, professors and students from the Global Campus network in order to engage participants in a truly global discussion about a relevant human rights topic.

The research work will therefore feed into the Global Classroom discussion and lead to overall conclusions enriched by the contribution of international experts.