Research programme

Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a pluralist world

What opportunities and challenges flow from the existence of institutional and normative diversity in the area of fundamental rights for the effective protection of those rights in a pluralist world?

Contact: Nadia Sonneveld

Institutional and normative diversity offers both opportunities and challenges in protecting fundamental rights. Diverse frameworks provide broader protection and more pathways for justice. However, this complexity can also lead to inconsistencies and legal uncertainty, making enforcement more difficult. Balancing these dynamics is key to effective rights protection in a pluralist world.

The research programme Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a Pluralist World (EPFR) started in its current form in 2015. It builds on a strong tradition of inspiring and high-quality human rights research at Leiden University and endeavors to further expand and strengthen this line of research. The programme is unique as the only standalone research programme on fundamental rights at a Dutch Faculty of Law.

Research focus and themes
The EPFR programme explores the dynamics of institutional and normative diversity regarding fundamental rights protection against the backdrop of the socio-cultural, political, and economic pluralism that characterizes today’s world, both globally and locally.

Developing and implementing fundamental rights standards in different social, political and economic settings may be inspired by and in its turn further enhance a plurality of readings and understandings of those rights in different regions and countries, and also within pluralist societies. To what extent is this indeed the case? What mechanisms play a role in arriving at (more) convergence or divergence? And to what extent are institutional and normative diversity problematic or something to be applauded? Against this background the programme’s central research problem is formulated as follows.

What opportunities and challenges come from having different institutions and norms for protecting fundamental rights in a diverse and pluralistic world?

The programme focuses on the following topical and overlapping themes:

interaction of European and national fundamental rights;
digital technologies and their interplay with fundamental rights;
children’s fundamental rights;
social and cultural diversity and fundamental rights;
fundamental rights, development, and rule of law.

Our research group brings together experts from a wide variety of disciplines, making it the only programme within the Faculty of Law that spans institutes and departments. This fosters a rich, collaborative environment where innovative ideas flourish and new frontiers of legal research are explored.

Staff

Academic Staff

PhD Candidates

External PhD Candidates

Our annual Toogdag unites researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines around a central theme. For instance, last year’s theme, 'Concepts of Justice in a War Era', explored case studies from Gaza, South Sudan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event also provides new members with a platform to introduce their research to the wider group, fostering collaboration and fresh perspectives.

Annual reports

Scholars for Scholars Leiden provides assistance for scholars who are prevented from pursuing their academic careers in their countries of residence due to persecution or sustained crisis.

Why supporting scholars at risk matters to us all

Supporting scholars at risk is not just a moral imperative; it is an urgent necessity for safeguarding academic freedom and nurturing the next generation of global leaders, informed citizens, and sustainable communities. Sadly, these objectives, essential to us all, are jeopardised as countless colleagues worldwide find themselves unable to continue their work, with some even experiencing real threats to their and their families’ lives. Currently, this is evident in Gaza, where all universities have been destroyed within the span of a few months, and hundreds of academics and education administrators alongside thousands of students have been killed.

Scholars for Scholars Leiden is working to develop a long-term vision and structure to facilitate sustainable education and research for scholars at risk and minimise disruptions caused by persecution, violence, and sustained crises. Ultimately, our guiding mission is to offer the help and support we hope to receive, should we ever find ourselves in a similar position; and to defend academic freedom and access to academic scholarship in these difficult times.

Towards long-term effective protection of fundamental rights

Scholars for Scholars Leiden originated in March 2024 from the research programme the Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a pluralist world (EPFR) at Leiden Law School. Our goal is to provide scholars at risk with a sanctuary to recover, sustain, and further their expertise, benefitting both them and us. This support facilitates the continuation of their academic careers and livelihoods, and aids in the reconstruction of their societies. Although they may have suffered significant losses, their expertise remains invaluable.

Through close collaboration with colleagues at other faculties, Dutch universities (of applied sciences) and various academic and civil society institutions, we aim to create an environment where mutual learning and cooperation lead to the truly effective protection of fundamental rights. It is imperative to establish an infrastructure for integrating scholars at risk, to ensure sustainable support for scholars at risk across the world. Through the Scholars for Scholars Leiden initiative, we aim to uphold the integrity of our program's name as well as the reputation of our faculty and university as bastions of freedom – Libertatis Praesidium!

Why financial support is needed

While we have achieved significant progress, we need your financial support to host our first group of scholars. Our aim is to invite two scholars, each for two years. Your donation is greatly appreciated and represents a crucial step in safeguarding a brighter future for scholars at risk. By supporting this program, you are also investing in the well-being and prosperity of our own generation and those to come, wherever they may be in the world.

Support At-Risk Scholars!

Help us create a sustainable future for scholars affected by war and crisis. By donating to Scholars for Scholars Leiden, you can help establish a vital position for a scholar at risk and champion academic freedom. Check out the crowdfunding page here.

For information about the programme, contact Nadia Sonneveld at epfr@law.leidenuniv.nl.