Human Rights Center: an overview
1. The Human Rights Center was established in 1982, on the initiative of the Head of the Department of Political Science at the time, Professor Antonio Papisca.
The initial denomination was “Center for the Study and Training of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms”, which was later changed to “Center for the Study and Training of Person's and Peoples' Rights”. Following the Rector’s Decree of July 7, 2001 it was renamed the “Interdepartmental Center of Research and Services for Human and People’s Rights” provided also with administrative autonomy.
Later, by the Rector’s Decree No. 1060 of April 11, 2013, the Interdepartmental Center became the “University Human Rights Centre”. As stated in Article 55 of the Statute, it was designated to conduct “specific interdisciplinary research activities and other institutional activities strategic for the University”.
To honour its founder, the Board of the Center subsequently changed the name to “Human Rights Centre Antonio Papisca”, by means of the Rector’s Decree No. 3793 of November 2, 2017.
The organs of the Center are the Steering Council and the President. The Steering Council is consist of the President, one Professor from Macroarea 1 (mathematics, physical sciences, information and communication sciences, engineering, and earth sciences), one Professor from Macroarea 2 (life sciences), three Professors from Macroarea 3 (human and social sciences), the head of the UNESCO Chair “Human Rights, Democracy and Peace”, and the Administrative Manager who acts like the secretariat during Council meetings. The President is nominated among the University Professors by the Rector, based on a proposal from the Steering Council.
The Human Rights Center is the first structural response by the Italian University System to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the recommendations from important international institutions such as the United Nations, the UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
The Human Rights Center intends to contribute to the actualisation of that which is explained in Article 1.2 of the Statute of the University of Padova, which reads:
The University of Padova, in conformity with the principles of the Constitution of the Italian Republic and of its own traditions which date back to 1222 and are summarized in the motto Universa Universis Patavina Libertas, affirms its pluralistic character and independence from any intolerance and discrimination of ideological, religious, political, or economic nature. It seeks to promote the realisation of a culture founded on universal values such as human rights, peace, preservation of the environment, and international solidarity.
The Center hosts the UNESCO Chair on “Human Rights, Democracy and Peace”. Established in 1999 with a special agreement/memorandum between the UNESCO Director-General and the Rector of the University of Padova. The strategic aim is to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation in the field of human rights, democracy and peace, both nationally and internationally. The Chair is part of the Network of the Italian UNESCO Chairs (ReCUI) created in 2022 as an evolution of the project “Dialogues of the UNESCO Chairs: A laboratory of ideas for the world to come”.
The University of Padua, with the Human Rights Center linked to the UNESCO Chair, adheres to the Italian University Network for Peace (RUniPace), promoted by the Conference of Italian University Rectors.
2. In more than 40 years of activities, the Human Rights Center activities has been characterised by its focus on curriculum development and academic institution building, operating locally, nationally and internationally.
Thanks to its initiatives, the University of Padova now offers a comprehensive educational pathway (3+2+3) in the field of human rights.
- Bachelor Degree in Political sciences, International relations and Human rights
- Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance
- International Joint PhD Programme in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-level Governance
The Degree programs are held by the Human Rights Center, providing students with opportunities to participate in international workshops, engage with European and non-European professors, experts, officials from international organisations, NGOs representatives and undertake internships in various areas related to the promotion and protection of human rights.
A Human Rights Center initiative established the “Save the Children Chair” in Children’s Rights within the LM in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance. Its aim is to share knowledge, build legal expertise in institutions and social policies concerning childhood and adolescence, organise events, seminars, awareness days for the protection and promotion of the human rights of the child and conduct joint research.
The Padova Model Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an event organised since 2018 by an international students team, together with former delegates, in coordination with the Human Rights Center, the Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (HRG), and the UPR Section of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Padova Model is an innovative annual academic simulation that offers participants the unique opportunity to engage deeply with the Universal Periodic Review, a key United Nations mechanism overseeing the examination of human rights reports by all UN member states.
It is an excellent program to acquire practical and interactive knowledge about human rights and democracy, beyond formal education.
Participants can take on various roles - States delegates, NGOs representatives, or officers of National Human Rights Institutions - experiencing firsthand how a State’s human rights situation is evaluated and how human rights violations are addressed.
During the 2023/2024 academic year, the General Course “Peace and Nonviolent Conflict Transformation” was established as part of the activities promoted by the Italian University Network for Peace (RUniPace) to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” and 4 “Quality Education” as outlined in the UN’s Agenda 2030.
The creation of the General Course is a concrete response by the University of Padova and RUniPace to the rapid spread of wars.
On a Human Rights Center proposal, the University of Padova awarded three Honorary Degrees in Human Rights: to Hans Blix in 2004, Head of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission in Iraq; to Father Luigi Mazzucato, first Director of the NGO Doctors with Africa CUAMM; to Ernesto Olivero in 2019, founder of the Youth Missionary Service and the Arsenal of Peace in Turin.
The PhD Programme in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-level Governance, launched in the 2016/2017 academic year, aims to train researchers with a multidisciplinary profile. The program offers teaching, research and training in the field of human rights, considering a variety of methodologies and approaches (legal, political, social, philosophical, and economic), depending on the geographical contexts. The program is divided in two curricula: Human Rights Protection and Social Justice, and Inclusion and Psychological Growth. Doctoral students conduct research, attend courses, and undertake internships at the University of Padova and prestigious European and international research centres.
The National PhD in “Peace Studies” has been launched on a RUniPace initiative in 2024/2025 academic year. It involves 34 Italian Universities and provides 30 scholarships each year.
At the European and international level, the Human Rights Center was the promoter of the European Master in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) in 1997 , along with the related European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC), which includes 42 participating universities, making it the major project of this kind in Europe.
The University of Padova serves as the first enrollment university for E.MA students and coordinates the University of Graz, Ca’ Foscari, Deusto (Bilbao), Bochum, Hamburg, Ljubljana which have signed the “Joint Degree Agreement” and are part of the “Inner Circle Universities”.
Over the years, EIUC founded other seven other regional Master’s programmes:
- Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in South East Europe (ERMA), coordinated by the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the University of Bologna (Italy) – Global Campus South-East Europe;
- Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA), coordinated by the University of Pretoria (Sud Africa) – Global Campus Africa;
- Master of Arts and Liberal Sciences specializing in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS) in Central Asia, coordinate by the OSCE Academy in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) - Global Campus Central Asia
- Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in the Asia-Pacific (APMA), coordinated by the University of Mahidol, Bangkok (Thailand) – Global Campus Asia-Pacific;
- Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in the Caucasus (CES), coordinate by the University of Yerevan (Armenia) – Global Campus Caucasus;
- Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LATMA), coordinated by the University of San Martin, Buenos Aires (Argentina) - Global Campus Latin America Caribbean;
- Master’s Programme in Democratic Governance and Human Rights in the Arab Region (ARMA), coordinated by the University of Saint Joseph di Beirut (Lebanon) – Global Campus Arab World.
Due to the significant development, the EIUC, founded in 2002, gradually evolved from an inter-university centre to a global one. In 2019, it was renamed Global Campus of Human Rights. It now represents the most extensive European and global university network for training in human rights and democracy, supported by the European Union.
3. The Human Rights Center publishes, since 2011, the Italian Yearbook of Human Rights (Padova University Press e P.I.E. Peter Lang). The Yearbook reviews, annually, how the international human rights monitoring system evaluates Italy, with the aim of fostering a conscious and transparent debate on this crucial aspect of public life. It acknowledges Italy’s position within the human rights international system.
In 2011 it was handed over to the then-President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale.
In 2012, it was presented to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.
In 2012, 2013 and 2015 it was delivered to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome, with the participation of ministers Giulio Terzi, Emma Bonino, Paolo Gentiloni.
In 2015, it was presented to the Chamber of Deputies in the presence of the President Laura Boldrini in 2015.
Since 2024, the Yearbook is also available in a more accessible format, under “Publications” on the website of the Human Rights Center.
Peace Human Rights Governance (PHRG) is the scientific, open-access journal of the Human Rights Center, continuing the decade-long experience of the magazine Pace Diritti Umani – Peace Human Rights (Venice, Marsilio Editore, 2004-2013). The first issue of PHRG was published in March, 2017.
PHRG is a biannual, peer-reviewed scientific magazine, published in English by the University Press (from 2017 to 2022, it was a quarterly publication). It is an innovative resource within the diverse and widespread scientific community engaged in the study of human rights. The aspiration is to share original theoretical and empirical contributions to human rights, while promoting a multi/inter-disciplinary and multi-level approach to research and scientific dissemination in this field.
Since its inception, the Center has organised annual Advanced Courses on the Rights of the Person and Peoples, Advanced Training Courses, and professional development courses aimed at teachers, officials, local administrators, CSOs representatives, social services providers, and young people in civil service.
4. At the local and regional levels, the Human Rights Center has collaborated with the Region of Veneto since 1988, following the adoption of Regional Law No. 18, “Regional interventions for the promotion of culture and peace”, of 30 March 1988.
Currently, the matter is regulated by the Regional Law No. 21 “Regional interventions for the promotion and diffusion of human rights as well as cooperation and sustainable development”. Article 1 states: “The Region of Veneto recognizes peace and development as human and people’s fundamental rights, it operates within the regional territory to safeguard and ensure the effectiveness of human rights, fundamental freedoms, the culture of peace, and cooperation for development, conforming to the Italian Constitution, European and the international law.
In accordance with the Region of Veneto, since 1988 the Human Rights Center has managed the “Archive Peace and Human Rights”. The Archive collects, organises and provides public access to documents, thematic databases and informational resources on peace, human rights and sustainable development. It serves as a tool to maintain the connection between the Human Rights Center, the Region of Veneto and the relevant actors involved in promoting and practising human rights and peace, including: volunteer association, NGOs, local stakeholders, schools, cultural centres, religious institutions, parties, or trade unions.
The Archive is one of the most prominent online portals in Italy, specifically dedicated to the dissemination of civic and political culture, grounded in the principles of the Italian Constitutions and international law, particularly the UN Charter and the UDHR.
The Human Right Center is part of the Regional Round table on human rights and cooperation for sustainable development, which has consultative power for the regional planning and for the regional organs in the matter established in the R.L. No. 21 of 21 June, 2018.
Moreover, the Center participates in the Round table for the regional coordination for the prevention and combating violence against women as a support and consultative body for the Regional Council to ensure the implementation of the L.R. No. 5, 2013.
The Center actively collaborates with the Centro Veneto Progetti Donna, Anti-Violence Center of Padova and Province, with which it has been initialised a Protocol of Understanding for creating various research, educational, and awareness activities. The Center also cooperates with the national network of Anti-Violence Centers D.i.Re - “Donne in Rete contro la violenza” - which is a partner of WAVE, Women Against Violence Europe.
As part of the cooperation with local and regional entities, the Center has signed protocols of understanding and cooperation agreements with several partners. This include the Municipality of Padova (for the development of informational and educational activities with schools, local stakeholders, and organisations); the Municipality of Venice in collaboration with the “Questura” and the Prefecture (to combat human trafficking); the Municipality of Venice (for the promotion of the culture of peace); and the National Coordination of Regional ombudsperson.
A strategic partnership has been established with the PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace, the “Coordinamento Nazionale degli Enti Locali per la Pace e i Diritti Umani” and the “Rete Nazionale delle Scuole di Pace”. The Human Rights Center provides scientific support for the organisation of the historical PerugiAssisi March for Peace, developing human rights and peace education programs within civic and cross-disciplinary education, and advancing local policies for promoting and protecting human rights.
Furthermore, the Center has approved a Protocol of Understanding with the Municipality of Pellegrino Parmense, the birthplace of Antonio Papisca.
This agreement aims to promote Professor Papisca’s thought, work and teachings, through: a) the enhancement of Pellegrino Parmense; b) the recognition of Pellegrino Parmense as “City of peace”, “Construction Site of Peace and Future”; c) the establishment of a School of Peace to train a new generation of peace-builders.
Additionally, a Protocol of Understanding has been signed with the UNICEF Veneto Regional Committee, on which basis the Center hosts various workshops on the rights of children and adolescents.
In the fulfilment of its policy- and action-oriented education, the Human Rights Center collaborates with several networks and Italian NGOs, including the following: Save the Children, Fondazione Banca Etica, Amnesty International, Associazione delle ONG Italiane, FOCSIV, CIPSI, Caritas, ACLI, Beati i Costruttori di Pace, Pax Christi, MIR, Movimento Nonviolento, Mani Tese, Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Rete italiana pace e disarmo, Centro Studi Difesa Civile, Rete in Difesa Di, Rete italiana disabilità e sviluppo, Disabled Peoples’ International, …
The Human Right Center collaborates with the key governmental and parliamentary bodies for the promotion of human rights. These include the Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affair and International Cooperation; the “Dipartimento per i Diritti e le Pari Opportunità” (DPO) at the Council of Minister Presidency, focusing on human trafficking and violence against women; the “Dipartimento per la Gioventù e il Servizio Civile Nazionale” at the Council of Minister Presidency for the experimentation of the Civic Peace Corps; the Extraordinary Commission for Human Right of the Senate of the Republic; and the Committee for the Promotion of Human Rights worldwide, at the Chamber of Deputies.
The Center works closely with the department of equal opportunities on both violence against women and on human trafficking, and other severe forms of exploitation.
Regarding human trafficking, the Center serves as the scientific representative for the National Anti-trafficking Hotline, managed by Regione Veneto for the DEO, supporting the activities developed in the “Interventi Tratta” Observatory.
Another crucial initiative of the Human Rights Center is its involvement in the Civic Peace Corps, introduced by the Decree March 7, 2015, from the Minister of Labour and Social Policies and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The Center’s President is an active member of the Committee monitoring and evaluating trials of the Civic Peace Corps contingent, established by Ministerial Decree at the Council of Ministers Presidency.
In the framework of the activities conducted by the UNESCO Chair “Human Rights”, the Center also works with the Italian National Commission for UNESCO.
The Human Rights Center partners with the mai organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNESCO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission.
The Center maintains contact with several European and international research institutes. Among the most recent are: Human Rights Consortium, University of London; School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg; School of Advanced Studies, University of London; European Training Centre for Human Rights and Democracy and UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Human Security, University of Graz; South Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town; Law and Development Research Group, University of Antwerp; Institute of International Studies, University of Wrocław; Institut des Droits de l’Homme, Lyon Catholic University; Association of Human Rights Institutes.
6. The Human Rights Center’s research activity has always contributed to deepen and disseminate a culture of human rights, grounded in the belief that “human rights knowledge” is an axio-practical and irenic knowledge, constitutively inter- and trans-disciplinary and action-oriented. This research serves as a tool to build peace and justice, benefiting people, groups and nations, and specific comprehensions.
A strategic goal of the Center is to utilise research findings, firstly, to in educational programs in the university system as well as in other training levels, in the network of CSOs, and in local governance.
For that purpose, the Center actively develops and updates educational curricula and models.
The Center’s research adopts a distinctive “glocalized” approach, based on the double assumption that the scope of human rights overcomes the national frontiers and that the principle of subsidiarity can effectively operate in this field, privileging the final centres of the local governance and the supra-national ones. This approach emphasises the role of NGOs and transnational social movements in advancing human rights.