Venice School for
Human Rights Defenders

By taking this course, you will:

• Examine today’s pressing human rights challenges, analyse root causes and explore solutions
• Build advocacy expertise, and translate academic and institutional knowledge into impactful public action
• Leverage UN mechanisms to bolster national-level human rights work
• Amplify your voice in global decision-making processes around human rights through sharing knowledge and expertise
• Develop strategies and techniques to increase the impact of defenders’ national and regional advocacy work, especially in fragile states
• Expand your professional network and connect with fellow human rights defenders and practitioners from all over the world

In class, participants will engage in an interactive learning experience through:

• Thematic plenary sessions and skill-building seminars
• Engaging participatory debates and group works
• Role-playing exercises to simulate real-life scenarios
• Case studies for practical application of concepts
• Brainstorming sessions to inspire creative problem-solving
• Peer learning activities to foster shared reflection

The Venice School for Human Rights Defenders is an intensive, one-week programme organised in cooperation with the European Parliament since 2016.

Participants benefit from keynote speeches by prominent human rights figures, including Sakharov and Right Livelihood laureates, as well as lectures by internationally renowned scholars, experts and activists from academia, international organisations, civil society and NGOs. The programme offers in-depth exploration of cross-cutting issues through core themes:

• • Engaging with UN mechanisms: treaty bodies and special procedures
  • Gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence
  • Environmental protection and indigenous rights
  • LGBTIQ+ rights
  • Documenting and raising awareness of human rights abuses through video evidence

Download the Programme (pdf)

Target audience: the Venice School is designed for human rights activists worldwide as well as students, PhD candidates, researchers, social workers, journalists, and IGOs and NGOs officials who aspire to become effective agents for change in their communities while advocating the rights of all individuals.

Language: fluency in English (both written and spoken) as the school is fully taught in English.

Self-funded applicants (deadline: 4 May 2025): will be evaluated on a rolling basis and candidates eligible for enrolment will be notified by email with an acceptance letter, including instructions for fee payment.

Scholarship applicants (deadline: 20 April 2025): will be evaluated only after the deadline. Application shall include a personal statement demonstrating commitment to human rights advocacy.

Young applicants: we strongly encourage talented young women and men aged 18 to 25 to apply.

Class size: limited to 30 participants to foster peer networking and maximise opportunities for direct interaction and personalised feedback from the experts.

Visa: for those who require visa to travel to Italy, kindly be informed that visa applications usually take minimum 3 months.

€ 1,400 (VAT included) that includes:

• Welcome aperitif
• Lunches and coffee breaks on class days
• Reading material and access to the School’s online learning platform
• Certificate of attendance upon completion of the programme.

All expenses related to transportation, accommodation and subsistence and any additional cost not listed above must be arranged and covered by the participant.

We offer a limited number of scholarship opportunities (subject to external funding approval) in the form of tuition waivers for young human rights defenders aged 18-25 who demonstrate their commitment to human rights advocacy.

Cancellation and Refund Policies