Human Rights Master - University of Vienna

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Human Rights Master - University of Vienna

"Where Science meets Practice!"
One-year (60 ECTS) postraduate program "Human Rights" (LL.M.) Follow us on linkedIn: human-rights-master-university-of-vienna

30/09/2026

HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: Headscarf Ban in Schools – Protection or Restriction of Self-Determination?

📅 Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

📍 Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Favoritenstraße 15a, 1040 Vienna

Since the start of the 2026/27 school year, girls under 14 are no longer permitted to wear an Islamic headscarf in Austrian schools. Does this ban strengthen girls’ self-determination and equal opportunities—or does it restrict religious freedom and contribute to the exclusion of Muslim girls?

Join us for a Human Rights Talk with a diverse panel of students, legal experts, human rights specialists, educators and government representatives. Together, we will discuss the social, human-rights and constitutional implications of the ban, as well as its impact on schools, families and society.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and reception.

Participation is free, but registration is required due to limited capacity:

🔗 https://eveeno.com/175801774

Please register by 6 October 2026.

22/09/2026

Fiction recommendation by Prof. Martina Caroni

Continuing with recommendations from Prof. Martina Caroni, professor and lecturer in the Human Rights Master’s program at the University of Vienna, I’d like to highlight a novel that complements legal analysis with human experience: Sophia by Rafik Schami.

Set against the backdrop of dictatorship and repression in Syria, the novel explores freedom, dignity, courage, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through vivid storytelling and deeply human characters, Schami illuminates how authoritarianism shapes everyday life and how hope, love, and resistance endure despite it.

Why I recommend it: The struggle for human rights is not only fought in courts and institutions, but also lived in families, friendships, and communities. Fiction can deepen empathy and moral imagination in ways that law alone cannot.

My biggest takeaway: Sophia shows that dignity is both a legal principle and a lived experience. By centering the voices of those who endure repression, the novel underscores why human rights work must stay grounded in people’s stories.

18/08/2026

Book recommendations by Prof. Martina Caroni:

As part of my teaching activities to the Human Rights Master’s program at the University of Vienna, I’d like to share a book that profoundly shaped my understanding of the field.
If you want to understand where modern human rights law and international criminal law come from, I highly recommend East West Street by Philippe Sands.
Part history, part memoir, part detective story, the book traces the lives of two remarkable lawyers, Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, whose ideas shaped the concepts of crimes against humanity and genocide. Through their intertwined personal histories, Sands brings to life the legal and moral debates that continue to influence international justice today.

Why I recommend it: It shows that legal concepts do not emerge in a vacuum. They are often born from individual experiences, historical tragedies, and the determination of people who believe that the law can make a difference.

My biggest takeaway: Understanding the history behind these concepts deepens our appreciation of both the power and the limits of human rights law. East West Street reminds us that law is ultimately about people and their stories.

24/07/2026

Public Sector HR in Focus: Insights, Innovation and Employer Branding

How can public sector organisations attract talent, strengthen employer branding, and navigate digital transformation?
The "Amtlich auf die Ohren" podcast by amtlich voran brings together experts from public administration, academia, and practice to discuss current developments in public sector HR. Episodes explore topics such as talent acquisition, career orientation, digitalisation, leadership, and innovative approaches to becoming an attractive employer.
With more than ten episodes already available, the podcast offers valuable insights for HR professionals, public sector leaders, researchers, and anyone interested in the future of work in government and public administration.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.saatkorn.com/category/amtlich-voran/

22/07/2026

Can we find humor in human rights?

Lecturer Véronique Lerch shares how in her TEDxNoVA talk. Watch here: Can we find humor in human rights? | Véronique Lerch | TEDxNoVA

21/07/2026

The Austrian Integration Prize recognises integration projects that support refugees, displaced persons and immigrants in learning German, entering the labour market and achieving social integration – whilst also promoting the values, culture and foundations of coexistence in Austria.

Entries may be submitted in the following categories:
• Work and the economy
• Empowerment of women
• Youth
• Action against extremism and anti-Semitism
• Sport
One winning project per category will be awarded prize money of €3,000.

Anyone aged 18 or over who is involved in or organises an integration project may apply by 13 September 2026.

17/07/2026

Human Rights in Practice: From Classroom to Community

On 17 July, we mark the World Day for International Justice, commemorating the 1998 adoption of the Rome Statute, the legal foundation of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The ICC addresses the gravest crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. This day underscores a core principle: impunity for the most serious human rights violations is never an option.
But justice doesn’t live only in international courtrooms. It’s shaped every day across public authorities, companies, schools, and in our interactions where equality, non-discrimination, and access to rights are decided in practice. The rule of law connects these levels, from global accountability to protection from discrimination on the ground.

At the Postgraduate Center, University of Vienna, our LL.M. in Human Rights equips professionals to understand how rights are enforced, recognize discrimination, implement effective anti-discrimination measures, and foster diversity within the rule of law. One of our lecturers, a lawyer at the Ombud for Equal Treatment, brings real-world practice directly into the classroom.

From remembrance to responsibility: justice must be learned, shaped, and defended again and again.

15/07/2026

Together with the University of Vienna Alumni Office, the Postgraduate Center hosted a vibrant networking event.

Highlight: “Human Rights as the Infrastructure of Democracy” with Human Rights alumna Irem Edes, sparking thoughtful discussion on how rights underpin democratic structures.

Who joined: University of Vienna/PGC alumni and prospective participants. Why it mattered: new connections with alumni and lecturers, fresh insights, and an overview of our continuing education programs.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and especially to Irem Edes. Stay connected for upcoming events and program news: Human Rights
Or sign up for our newsletter: https://massmailer.univie.ac.at/site/postgraduatecenter/huri/subscribe/article/414.html

13/07/2026

Press release from the European Committee of the Regions:
LGBTIQ+ equality: Ensuring fundamental rights is key to social cohesion and strong democracy

At its 2 July plenary, the CoR backed the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030 and urged stronger protections: ban conversion practices, counter digital violence, ensure cross-border rights, and fund local action. “An equal Europe lets us all live openly and safely.”
Read more: LGBTIQ+ equality: Ensuring fundamental rights is key to social cohesion and strong democracy | European Committee of the Regions

09/07/2026

Semester Question finale “Where is democracy headed?”

On June 22, the final event of our semester-long series on democracy took place in the University of Vienna’s Main Ceremonial Hall. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered a keynote address and took part in an engaging panel discussion with other experts.
At the following reception, former, current, and prospective Human Rights master’s students had the opportunity to network, learn about democracy-focused research projects, and continue the discussion.

Adresse

Spitalgasse 2
Wien

Webseite

http://humanrights.univie.ac.at/

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