Longer-term duty of care
After defenders have left the programme, either having returned home or to a third country, or having sought asylum, what is the university’s duty of care, and how long should this care last? Will the university maintain contact with human rights defenders in the longer term, and if so, how? It should be noted that there are challenges to maintaining a duty of care when the number of human rights defender alumni increases. Active maintenance of an alumni network requires time and resources beyond the day-to-day functioning of relocation programmes. So realism is also needed about the kinds and volume of support that universities have the capacity to provide.
Staying in touch
Whilst human rights defenders will vary in how much they wish to remain in contact with universities, some examples of how programmes have done this are:
Ongoing use of university email / library accounts (regularly stated by defenders to be extremely significant beyond the programme).
Inviting former participants to be guest speakers or to co-teach courses remotely.
Creating an alumni network or an alumni mentoring scheme, for example where current fellows are put in touch with former fellows who can provide advice.
Case study
Students at Risk (StAR Program, Norway
Students at Risk (StAR) is a program that supports students, who due to their human rights activism, are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their home country. The Program is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-Dir).
Accepted candidates receive scholarships to complete their education at participating Norwegian Higher Education Institutions. Upon completion of their degree in Norway, students are expected to return to their home country or find other opportunities independently.
As most students continue their activism and human rights work, some individuals need longer-term support from SAIH – The Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund – through processes such as applying for asylum, identifying opportunities in a third country, or after they return home and face new risks due to their human rights work or political engagement.
Host institutions in Norway have been allies in ensuring continued protection of StAR alumni, engaging in campaigns, or offering practical support after the Program. Creating a network that accompanies students throughout their human rights career is something that SAIH continues to advocate for by strengthening networks with relevant human rights actors.
A final question around the duty of care is what role universities should play if defenders they hosted in the past face repression and threats after they have returned home. In such situations, the centre or department that hosted the defender might consider writing a letter to the relevant authorities, signing petitions circulated by others, or engaging in advocacy on the defender’s behalf in other ways.
More information
‘Plan early! Get ready for return’ in SAR’s How to host – A handbook for higher education partners (page 33).
Risk analysis and protection plan principles compiled by Protection International and available in multiple languages.