When most people think of human rights, they envision courtrooms, treaties, and lawyers in crisp suits. But look closer, and you’ll find activists, caregivers, economists, teachers, and even coders, all shaping what it means to live with dignity today. In an era marked by AI-driven surveillance, digital privacy concerns, and global conflicts, the necessity of human rights education has become undeniable. Youth today are navigating through a complex global environment that demands both human rights awareness and action. Embedding human rights education into the mainstream is not an optional enhancement; it is an educational necessity in a rapidly evolving world.
One of the greatest strengths of human rights education lies in its ability to connect across disciplines. In science and technology, it addresses issues like AI surveillance, data privacy, and environmental justice and prepares students to design systems that uphold dignity and fairness. In medicine, it is connected with ethical care, reproductive rights, mental health, and access to treatment. In business and commerce, it guides people on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), labour rights, inclusive growth, and ethical leadership. Humanities and Social Sciences explore the roots of inequality, gender dynamics, and conflict through a rights-based lens. Arts and media use storytelling and visual expression to shape public discourse and policy. Each field offers a unique entry point, and together, they enrich our understanding of rights. The future lies in collaboration, not silos.
Courses
Human rights education today is offered by institutions worldwide — from short-term certificates to full-fledged degree programmes. Globally, universities like Oxford, Harvard, and LSE offer interdisciplinary programmes, while the EMA in Venice brings together scholars from over 40 institutions. In the Global South, universities in South Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia emphasise postcolonial and indigenous rights perspectives.
In India, JNU, Delhi University, TISS, and IIHR offer specialised postgraduate and diploma courses. In Tamil Nadu, the University of Madras, Annamalai University, Bharathidasan University, IGNOU, TNOU and Dr. Ambedkar Law University offer Certificate courses, Diploma, PG Diploma, UG and PG courses in Human Rights through distance education. Research degrees in interdisciplinary streams are also available.
Globally, institutions like Open Society Foundations, Fulbright, DAAD (Germany), and Erasmus Mundus (EU) offer graduate and postgraduate fellowships focused on rights, peace, and justice. Universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Essex, and Geneva provide institutional grants and postdoctoral opportunities, while organisations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) offer research collaborations and stipends. In India, support is expanding through the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), ICSSR, and UGC. National and State commissions, BPRD, and legal institutions also regularly call for research proposals. Many universities internally fund projects on justice, digital rights, caste, and LGBTQ+ issues. A growing trend is cross-disciplinary funding, where proposals in tech, education, or disaster response must include a rights-based lens. Think tanks, NGOs, media, and CSR foundations also offer paid research roles, which are vital stepping stones for young scholars.
Choosing human rights education today is both hopeful and strategic. It’s not just about activism; it’s a gateway to diverse, meaningful careers. Human rights professionals are now shaping ESG strategies in corporate, influencing policy in governments, and designing ethical AI in tech firms. NGOs, think tanks, and international bodies need graduates trained in rights-based thinking for research, advocacy, and implementation. From journalism to public health, digital governance to development, human rights graduates are finding their place.
It’s not a narrow path; it’s an expansive, interdisciplinary field for those who want to make change that matters. After all, the world doesn’t need more techies or investment bankers quoting Gandhi, Ambedkar or Abdul Kalam. It needs professionals who can actually be them.
The writer is Associate Professor, PG Department of Human Rights and Duties Education, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.
Published – June 29, 2025 08:00 am IST
