Governance and Human Rights Conference
Annual Governance and Human Rights conference
A special highlight of the Master's programme in Governance and Human Rights is the annual conference. As an interactive, online event, it brings together students, alumni and external experts for an intensive exchange on current topics in the field of governance and human rights.
General information
Planned by students - open to a wide audience
The conference is designed and realised by the students themselves as part of the project module. Students choose the main topic, invite speakers, design the programme - and thus set their own content priorities.
The event is not only directed at current students of all years and alumni of the programme, but is also open to an external audience of experts from civil society, academia and practice.
Compact, digital and versatile in its content
The conference format is purposely kept compact: In three to four hours, participants can expect a wide-ranging programme with keynotes, workshops and panel discussions - all online and therefore internationally accessible.
The variety of topics reflects the students' perspectives. In previous years, the focus has been on issues such as environmental justice, digital human rights and the role of companies in conflict regions. Well-known experts from international organisations, NGOs and think tanks regularly take part as speakers.
Sharing perspectives - strengthening networks
The conference offers space for debate, knowledge transfer and networking - across disciplines, generations and national borders. This conference is an expression of the course's self-image: practical, dialogue-based and globally oriented.
Save the date – Conference 2025
The date for this year's conference: 16.09.2025 - 15:30 to 18:30
Review of the conferences held in recent years
The topics of the conferences are determined by the students. Over the past 8 years, very different topics have been covered.
| Year | Topic |
|---|---|
| 2024 | “Quenching the thirst of people and business reconciling the right to water and (responsible) business practices in the food and beverage sector” |
| 2023 | “Inclusive Society – Disability Awareness in the Context of Good Health, Well-being, and Quality Education” |
| 2022 | “Generation Global Digital: How digitalisation affects Human Rights” |
| 2021 | “Intersectionality during COVID 2019: Approaches and Lessons” |
| 2020 | “Human Rights in cyber space” |
| 2019 | "The Role of the Council of Europe in Challenging Times” |
| 2018 | “The textile industry and Human Rights" |
| 2017 | “The Human Rights implications of digitalisation and the role of education” |
| 2016 | “10 Years Human Rights Council - What difference has it made? What difference should it make in the future” |
Contact & Advising
Programme Coordinator
Dr. Iryna Shkura
Universitätsallee 1, 40.121
21335 Lüneburg
Fon 04131.677-2942
gahr@leuphana.de
E-mail contact
Please feel free to contact us via gahr@leuphana.de.
Programme Director
- Prof. Dr. Till Patrik Holterhus MLE. LL.M. (Yale)