What is STARLIGHT?

The Hertie School and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC), joined forces to facilitate a more effective use of a powerful yet underused tool to protect fundamental rights in the European Union: the Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR).

The STARLIGHT project provided legal practitioners in the European Union (EU) with the skills and knowledge to apply the CFR in strategic litigation. Over a period of 12 months, participants in this capacity building programme benefitted from seminars, workshops, legal clinics and networking opportunities in varying formats to accomplish two main goals:

  • Applying the CFR and other EU laws in three thematic areas:
    rule of law, asylum/migration, criminal justice;

  • Acquiring crucial skills to engage in strategic litigation at EU level, develop EU jurisprudence and promote systemic and social changes in their respective countries.

STARLIGHT was funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme of the European Union. 

People of STARLIGHT

Meet the people of STARLIGHT!
Agenda and dates

Find information on STARLIGHT II activities and timeline here!
FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions here!
News

Find project highlights and updates here!
Application

Find out how to apply!

Hear more about the programme from our alumni and trainers:

Advocacy

Unlocking the Power of Legal Advocacy: STARLIGHT for Fundamental Rights
Collective Action

Unlocking the Power of Collective Action: STARLIGHT for Fundamental Rights
Advocacy

Unlocking the power of legal advocacy: STARLIGHT 2024
Strategic Litigation

Unlocking the power of strategic litigation for the rule of law: STARLIGHT 2024

Find STARLIGHT publications from the legal clinics here:

2024

Asylum and Migration
2024

Criminal Justice
2024

Rule of Law and Civic Space
2023

Asylum and Migration
2023

Criminal Justice
2023

Rule of Law and Civic Space