This year, the three-week course is led by Acting Director of NCHR, Nina Reiners, and co-coordinated with research assistant Sunniva Fredstad. Through excursions and the vast variety of topics covered during lectures, the students will leave with a deeper understanding of human rights at a national, regional and international level. The multidisciplinary nature of the course allows for a comprehensive exploration of human rights in law and other fields, as well as the relationship between them.
To kickstart the beginning of an enriching learning experience, the ISS hosted an opening event at Domus Aula. The event was attended by over 500 enthusiastic students and teachers and followed by a reception at Oslo city hall with a welcome by the Mayor of Oslo. The opening session included several interesting speeches, for example by Summer School leader Anne Cathrine De Silva, as well as a culturally rich performance from performance group Stella Polaris. The reception in Oslo city hall gave everyone the opportunity to learn about the building and art in the hall while taking a tour around the building, or mingle with the rest of the summer school, which this year is hosting over 500 students from 80 countries.
The course
The ‘Fundamentals of Human Rights’ course invited students from many different countries, representing countries from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Backgrounds in law, politics, economics and more make the discussions in class a truly unique experience for everyone. Spanning over three weeks of lectures and seminars, the course covers a wide array of topics including history, philosophy, and politics of human rights, as well as human rights law. NCHR has had the pleasure of inviting scholars from both within UiO and from abroad. Prof. Hannah Birkenkötter (ITAM) joined early in the programme and taught a lecture on international law and international organisations. Later in the course Prof. Andrea Liese (U Postdam) teaches on ‘The Spiral Model of Human Rights’. In addition to external guest lecturers, teachers from both the Law Faculty and the Social Science Faculty of UiO have come to speak on topics ranging from democratic governance, environmental rights, international institutions, women’s rights, business and more.
The students will also develop their knowledge further during two planned excursions. Already on the first day the participants joined some of the teachers in visiting the Nobel Peace Museum and learned about the history of the prize, Norway’s role in the prize and, very interestingly, got to see the latest exhibition on 2023 winner Narges Mohammadi. Another visit is planned to the 22 July Centre, a great opportunity for the international students to learn more about human rights in Norway.
Advancing human rights advocacy globally
Upon completion of the course, participants will have gained knowledge about the evolution of the modern human rights system, engage in debates about the legitimacy of human rights, and understand the institutions and mechanisms that protect and promote human rights at global, regional, and national levels. They develop skills to evaluate different theories of human rights, analyse variations in human rights compliance across different regions, and identify the challenges in promoting and implementing human rights.
The International Summer School in “Fundamentals of Human Rights” at NCHR provides a unique opportunity for individuals to gain a deep understanding of human rights and engage in meaningful discussions and learning experiences. It equips participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to become advocates for human rights in their respective fields and regions, contributing to the advancement of human rights at a global scale.