Global Campus Open Knowledge Repository
Our Open Knowledge Repository is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes all digital materials resulting from the rich and varied production of the Global Campus of Human Rights. It is an ever growing collection which aims to give visibility to our research outputs, educational content, and multimedia materials; sustain open access for knowledge transfer; and foster communication within and beyond academia.
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- The Global Campus Human Rights Journal is a peer-reviewed bi-annual publication that serves as a forum for rigorous scholarly analysis, critical commentaries, and reports on recent developments pertaining to human rights and democratisation globally.
- Publications series about various projects developed by Global Campus of Human Rights.
- A selection of the best master theses of each regional programme (annual award) as well as the full collection of all dissertations.
- This collection includes the Global Campus of Human Rights Annual Report and specific activities reporting.
- The Global Campus of Human Rights Magazine is a quarterly promotional publication on the network activities. It is published both in English and Italian.
Recent Submissions
Voices amplified or silenced? Navigating the impact of generative AI on freedom of expression in Mexican elections
(Global Campus of Human Rights, 2024) Cortés Roshdestvensky, Vladimir; Szoszkiewicz, Łukasz
This thesis explores the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) on freedom of expression and electoral integrity in the context of the 2024 Mexican elections. It examines the dual nature of GenAI as both a tool for expanding creative expression and a potential threat to democratic processes through the spread of disinformation. The research adopts a human rights-based approach, analysing international legal frameworks and their application to the digital age. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the Mexican electoral landscape, including its complex geo-electoral system and digital divide. It documents various instances of AI-generated content during the election cycle, ranging from disinformation campaigns to creative political expressions. The thesis acknowledges the intense debate surrounding GenAI's impact on election integrity. While some researchers warn of its potential to amplify disinformation, others argue these concerns may be overstated. The research emphasises the need for a multidisciplinary approach to develop robust detection methods, strengthen media literacy, and foster evidence-based discussions on AI's role in democratic systems. This thesis serves as a starting point for further exploration of the effect of technological transformations on society, calling for human rights-centred regulatory frameworks and multi-stakeholder participation to align technological advancements with democratic principles.
Plastic Pollution and the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment: A Case Study of People Living in Squatter Settlements Along the Riversides of Kathmandu City, Nepal
(Global Campus of Human Rights, 2024) Engel, Alexandra; Sangroula, Geeta Pathak; Hayes, Mike
Our planet is facing a global plastics crisis. Every living species throughout every ecosystem on the planet is detrimentally affected by plastic pollution. However, people in vulnerable situations and living in poverty are disproportionately affected by plastic waste and its implication on their lives and full enjoyment of human rights. Although Nepal has strict laws regarding plastic and environmental protection, their implementation is lacking. In addition, the waste management system is weak, and there is a lack of general awareness. Throughout Kathmandu City, plastics leak into rivers or are dumped on their banks, especially affecting people living in these areas. In this context, this research project seeks to study the right to a clean and healthy environment of the people living in squatter settlements along the riversides of Kathmandu City with a focus on environmental justice. Furthermore, this research identifies policy and practical measures of the government of Nepal regarding plastic pollution and their applicability and efficiency. Through qualitative tools such as in-depth and key informant interviews with people living in squatter settlements, as well as different stakeholders such as lawyers, judges, scholars, and government officials, this research draws out a holistic approach to the general discussion of plastic pollution and the right to a clean and healthy environment by including different perspectives. Therefore, this study contributes significantly, on the one hand, to examine the situation of the squatters of Kathmandu City (rights-holders) and, on the other hand, to identify the obligations and needed assistance (capacity and resources) of the government (duty bearer) to fulfil their commitments in regard to safeguarding the right to a clean and healthy environment as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal.
EU Policy in Eastern Partnership Countries: A Comprehensive Analysis of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Strategies
(Global Campus of Human Rights, 2024) Grigoryan, Liana; Aleksanyan, Arusyak
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) region has long been at the center of geopolitical tensions and conflicts that challenge regional stability and security. The European Union (EU) has been actively involved in these EaP countries, implementing various policies and strategies aimed at conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Understanding the effectiveness of these efforts is crucial, given the ongoing and evolving nature of conflicts, including recent escalations in Ukraine. This study is significant as it provides an in-depth analysis of the EU's conflict resolution and peacebuilding approaches, contributing to the broader discourse on international conflict management and regional stability.
This research explores the effectiveness of the EU’s policies and strategies by analysing their impact on conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. It examines the various mechanisms and tools used by the EU, including diplomatic engagements, economic assistance and security cooperation, and assesses their outcomes. The study also includes a comparative analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of EU strategies across different countries in the region, highlighting similarities and differences in their approaches.
EU policies have had some successes in mitigating conflicts and promoting stability, but significant challenges remain. Persistent conflicts and crises continue to undermine stability despite EU interventions. The research highlights that while the EU’s diverse mechanisms and tools have contributed to peacebuilding, there are gaps in their effectiveness and implementation. The study concludes with recommendations for improving EU strategies and interventions, aiming to enhance their impact and address the complexities of conflict resolution in the Eastern Partnership region.
Examining the Effects of Inheritance Practices on Women’s Socio-Economic Rights in Burundi
(Global Campus of Human Rights, 2024) Mugisha, Merveille; Mutambasere, Susan; Mokoena, Crystal
This thesis examines the effects of inheritance practices on women’s socioeconomic rights in Burundi, where patriarchal norms continue to govern land succession despite national, regional, and international legal commitments to gender equality. While women constitute the majority of the agricultural workforce, inheritance practices systematically exclude them from property ownership, particularly land, reinforcing economic dependence and deepening poverty among female-headed households. The research employs a desktop-based methodology, drawing on domestic, regional, and international legal instruments, as well as scholarly literature and case studies. It reveals critical gaps in Burundi’s legal and institutional frameworks, including the absence of codified inheritance law and limited judicial enforcement of constitutional and international protections. By examining South Africa’s legal reforms and progressive jurisprudence in addressing gender-based discrimination in inheritance, the study identifies practical lessons for Burundi. The thesis concludes that legal reform, judicial training, and community-level sensitization are essential to overcoming entrenched discriminatory practices and ensuring women’s equal access to inheritance and related socio-economic rights.
EU Border Policies Between Securitisation and Human Rights: The Impact of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum on BiH and The Western Balkans
(Global Campus of Human Rights, 2024) Nicolaou, Orestis; Krasteva, Anna
The thesis explores the intersection of securitisation and human rights within the framework of the European Union (EU) border and migration policies, with a particular focus on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and its future affections for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the broader region, the Western Balkans (WB). Following the adoption of the New Pact, EU MS seek to harmonise border management and asylum procedures, but its policies, especially the externalisation of border control, raises significant human rights concerns. This study critically analyses the evolving dynamics of borders, informed by theoretical frameworks such as borderscapes and bordering processes, to understand the contemporary geopolitics of migration in the region. Reaching a case study of BiH, the research examines the country's transformation from one of the largest 'refugee-producing' nations in the 1990s to a crucial transit hub for migrants between 2012 and 2016. It further explores the impact of EU policies on Bosnia’s border governance, illustrating how these policies may ultimately contribute to the country becoming a space where people on the move find themselves 'trapped.' By integrating desk research, policy analysis, qualitative interviews, and media discourse analysis, the thesis reveals how EU external migration policies shape migration management and human rights outcomes in non-EU countries like BiH, where security and fear gradually come to dominate migration discourse and practices, both at the public and governance levels.