Opening remarks from the organizers followed by an opening panel about the situation for human rights in the world. Josette Bushell-Mingo sings Nina Simone.

The right to food, health care, housing and education are examples of human rights that states are obliged to protect, respect and fulfill. But what do these rights entail and why are economic, social and cultural rights still often treated as non justiciable, how does the lack of complaint mechanisms impact the possibility to fulfill them? What does the legal framework look like and what can you do if you are being denied your rights?

During 2016 SKL and RWI invited researchers, practitioners and NGO:s to explore the HR-city aproach. Listen to international practice, experiences and conclusions.

The state has a responsibility to protect against violations of human rights by private actors. Does Sweden's responsibility cover acts of Swedish companies abroad, and would such responsibility include economic and social rights, like the right to water and food or human rights in the workplace?

Professor Cynthia Enloe, American professor of Political Science at Clark University, has done research about militarism from a feminist perspective for about 50 years. Why is such a perspective important and which measures are important to take in order to break militaristic structures?

The right to adequate food is a human right. Still, more than 800 million people suffer from hunger, while half a billion suffer from obesity. Is the global food system of today consistent with human rights? What are the alternatives? It´s time to listen to the peasants!

Women are exposed to various forms of violence during conflict and transitions. Apart from murder, torture and rape, gender violence and internal displacement increase for instance. In Burma and Colombia women's redress is caught between conflict and transition. How can women's rights be ensured?

The global number of displaced persons are currently historically high. The capacity to provide refugee protection in conformity with international human rights standards is being tested not just in Sweden and Europe, but even more so in countries in the region of origin, which continue to host the vast majority of the world’s refugees. At the same time, many developed countries are ducking their responsibilities. Draconian immigration policies are put in place and borders re-erected both within and around Europe. Based on current research conducted at Lund University and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute this panel discusses what could and should be done to improve refugee protection, locally, nationally, regionally and globally.

Centrum för Sociala Rättigheter (The Center for Social Rights) will host a lecture that will build on the organizations experiences of working with the law as a tool to support vulnerable groups in society and their claim for their rights.

Children with disabilities, like all children, have the right to participate in society and express their views. Yet their views are often ignored or overlooked. How can we provide the spaces for children with disabilities to truly take part in the decision making processes that affect their lives?
The seminar will be interpreted to sign language.

“Organizing is the surest way to equip the poor in their fight against poverty,” says Reema Nanavaty from Self Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) – an organization that since 1972 organises the poor women workers in India to bargain for their rights and representation.
Reema Nanavaty joined the rural wing of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in 1984, the same year as the organization and the founder Ela Bhatt was awarded The Right Livelihood Award. Reema Nanavaty was elected as General Secretary in 1999. Under her leadership, SEWA's membership grew to new heights, making SEWA the single largest union of informal sector workers in India.

The 2013 Zimbabwean Constitution offers great promises to both citizens and foreign nationals who live within the country's territorial borders. These promises range from an almost exhaustive list of enforceable fundamental rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, to the creation of a number of independent and state institutions supporting democracy (i.e. the Human Rights Commission, the Gender Commission and the Anti-corruption Commission). However, amid these promises lie challenges. The people's enjoyment of the promises of the Declaration of Rights will mainly depend on multiple factors, including the presence of a vibrant civil society, empowered citizenry and an accountable government that is politically willing to translate the promises into reality. In this panel, Zimbabwean academics and professionals, with a moderator from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, will discuss the promises, challenges and opportunities in this regard.

In Sweden and Europe, there is an ongoing discussion about the so called refugee crisis, referring to the large number of people seeking refuge from war and persecution in Europe. But the real desolation affects those who flee and who are forced out on a life threatening voyage on the Mediterranean Sea. This seminar seeks to present the effects and human consequences of Europe’s border control and present suggestions for a solution.

The last years the situation regarding human rights and political space for civil society has continuously worsened in Cambodia and several restrictive laws have been approved. A guest from the organisation LICADHO will present the situation, with a freedom of expression and assembly focus.

Doing empirical human rights research may involve intervening in the lives of others, and the consequences are not always predictable. What if your research put others at risk or raise hopes that you can't meet? What is your role and your responsibilities when that happens?

A lecture on what Extremist Radicalization can be from a practical point of wiew including understanding psychological components in order to have a closer look at the human factors. What is radicalization beyond the etiquetts of political and religious extremism and how can we addres root causes and undertake early intervention? 
The seminar will be held in English and Swedish

The world experiences an increase in torture crimes and many affected seek safety in countries like Sweden. Join this dialogue on what torture victims go through, the impact on their lives and how to best assist. By linking to the global context, the political implications will also be discussed.

  Välkommen till ett seminarium om hur sociala medier och digitala verktyg används för att utkräva ansvar av dem som har makt och ansvar för att mänskliga rättigheter respekteras, skyddas och tillgodoses.

The joint Palestinian Israeli organization Parents Circle Families Forum has shown that reconciliation between individuals and nations is possible.

What is the situation for women that are forced to flee their homes like? How does Europe's closed borders and tough asylum policies affect women in particular?Kvinna till Kvinna's partner organisations from the Middle East region discuss the issues and experiences from working with women refugees