JCU Hosts 4th Edition of Summer Course on Migration and Human Rights
John Cabot University, in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), organized the fourth edition of the Summer Course on Migration and Human Rights, which took place from the 15th to the 19th of July. The aim of the course is to equip post-graduate students and young professionals with legal, social, scientific and theoretical tools to better understand and tackle the growing challenges of international migration.
2019 Summer Course on Migration and Human Rights
The Summer Course was taught by leading academics from John Cabot and other universities, along with representatives of the United Nations system, international human rights bodies and civil society organizations. Lectures focused on topics such as International and European refugee and asylum law, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, irregular migration by sea, and the challenges of cultural and religious pluralism. Speakers from various organizations, including UNHCR, IOM and FAO, discussed the management of global migration, the tools that can be used to reduce the vulnerability of migrants to human rights violation, and the gaps and challenges that need to be addressed by the international community.
The Summer Course, which was attended by participants from 25 countries, began with the screening of freelance journalist Giulia Bertoluzzi’s documentary Strange Fish. The documentary talks about Zarzis, a Tunisian fishermen town where fishing has become a source of distress due to the chance of finding dead bodies in the sea. Strange Fish, produced with contributions from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, shows how the town’s fishermen have saved thousands of migrants over the past 15 years, and how they gave a dignified burial to those who lost their lives at sea.
Emilio Ciarlo, Head of Institutional Relations and Communication of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Director a.i. of UNICRI gave welcoming remarks. A panel discussion with Giulia Bertoluzzi (Director of Strange Fish), Carlotta Sami (UNHCR Spokeswoman for Southern Europe), Clara Pascual De Vargas (Human Rights Officer, Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children of the OHCHR), Gian Cosimo Rosas (Director of the ILO Office for Italy and San Marino) and Jean-François Durieux (Course Convenor and Tutor, Refugee Law Initiative of the University of London), moderated by Professor of Political Science Silvia Scarpa concluded the event.
“This summer course provides a chance to analyze migration and human rights holistically from different sides. It is a great opportunity for both young professionals and students to build a strong network of contacts from all around the world” said Katerina Milan Spasovska, one of the participants of the 2019 Summer Course.
