Human rights
In a world of rising tensions, human rights are increasingly important. By bringing together several research disciplines, researchers at Lund University aim to address global societal problems and promote human rights as effective tools for justice.
Humanity is divided on how to deal with global challenges. In an increasingly polarised world, it is vital that we demonstrate the role that human rights can play in promoting more inclusive, just and democratic societies.
The profile area of human rights addresses global challenges such as growing inequality between rich and poor, refugee and migrant movements, health, the climate crisis, conflicts and new technologies.
Study the impacts of a polarised world
Researchers pay particular attention to the impact and consequences of a polarised world on global norms, practices, actors and institutions in the field of human rights. They focus for example on:
- the responsibilities of states and non-state actors within and beyond territorial boundaries
- the protection of personal integrity and societal justice in a digitalised world
- the dual role of the state as both defender and potential violator of human rights
- responsibility for rights when public space is under threat
- accountability and jurisdiction in conflict and post-conflict situations.
The profile area brings together human rights researchers from law, humanities and theology, social sciences, economics, medicine, technology and the arts. Researchers collaborate over these issues with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, also based in Lund.
Collaboration areas
Working closely with local, national and international organisations, researchers develop methods, policies and strategies to help secure human rights and promote a fairer and more democratic world.
The Global Academy is part of an international training programme in SRHR led by Lund University. The long-term goal is to improve access to sexual and reproductive rights for vulnerable people. This will be achieved through improved access to sexuality education and high quality sexual and reproductive health services.
The Global Academy sees sexual and reproductive health as a human rights issue and brings together SRHR experts from different sectors, universities, organisations and groups from around the world.
By supporting and raising awareness of SRHR issues in local communities and among health care providers, the Global Academy can increase knowledge of and demand for SRHR services among vulnerable groups.
The transition to fossil-free energy raises issues of rights and justice.
Together with civil society, trade unions, industry and politicians, the Just Energy Transition research team is developing a tool to help decision-makers formulate balanced and inclusive energy policies.
The tool can be used as a moral compass when decision-makers have to make compromises on issues related to the energy transition in Sweden and the world.
In a rights-respecting society, citizens need to know what their rights are and how to assert them through social and legal institutions.
Too often, however, vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens face complex legal issues. These involve several overlapping legal areas. And there is no guidance on how to deal with this complexity.
The researchers are therefore developing a practical model to disseminate knowledge and advice on complex legal issues to vulnerable groups.
Legal knowledge and advice for marginalised groups
Research environments
The following links are to other websites.
- Child Rights Institute
- Civil society elites
- Gender studies
- Economic development of the Global South
- Health law
- Moral and legal responsibility (LGRP)
- Human rights studies
- Human rights law
- Raoul Wallenberg Institute
- Risk management and societal safety
- Social medicine and global health
- South Asian studies
- East and Southeast Asian studies
Profile area at LU
Human rights is one of five profile areas at Lund University. The area's unique research aims to improve people's lives and solve global problems.
General enquiries
info [at] humanrights [dot] lu [dot] se (info[at]humanrights[dot]lu[dot]se)
Coordinator
Lena Halldenius
Professor
Phone: +46 46 222 96 01
lena [dot] halldenius [at] mrs [dot] lu [dot] se (lena[dot]halldenius[at]mrs[dot]lu[dot]se)
Deputy Coordinator
Jessica Almqvist
Professor
Phone: +46 46 222 10 03
jessica [dot] almqvist [at] jur [dot] lu [dot] se (jessica[dot]almqvist[at]jur[dot]lu[dot]se)
Website
Research database
Related researchers, projects and publications.
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