Highlights and Updates on the STARLIGHT project

The Legal Clinics are a core part of the STARLIGHT programme, where all participants worked in groups to develop legal arguments on a real or potential case. Groups were mentored by their course leads and one case per thematic stream selected for publication.

You can read the legal arguments here:

The Charter of Fundamental Rights (Charter) is a powerful tool for the protection of rights across the European Union (EU). However, despite its robust framework, implementation is hampered by a lack of transparency and a failure to deploy all available tools. This, coupled with the European Commission’s slow and cautious approach, threatens accountability and puts its role as the guardian of the treaties at stake.

The STARLIGHT project co-signed an advocacy brief together with 19 other organisations, calling for the European Commission to adopt a more strategic and transparent approach to enforcing EU Charter rights through strengthened monitoring, expedited litigation, and consistent implementation of judgments.

Kersty McCourt and Márta Pardavi share why advocacy is so important and what good legal advocacy for fundamental rights looks like. The STARLIGHT programme is a collaboration between Hertie School ExecutiveEducation and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, funded by the European Union and empowers legal practitioners to harness the Charter of Fundamental Rights for strategic litigation in the EU. The STARLIGHT programme is funded by The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value programme (CERV) of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the EU CERV-Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

László Detre explains how the Charter can be used to protect the Rule of Law through strategic litigation. The STARLIGHT programme is a collaboration between Hertie School ExecutiveEducation and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, funded by the European Union and empowers legal practitioners to harness the Charter of Fundamental Rights for strategic litigation in the EU. The STARLIGHT programme is funded by The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value programme (CERV) of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the EU CERV-Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Discover how lawyers, traditionally versed in navigating the European Court of Human Rights, can now broaden their horizons by understanding the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. The STARLIGHT programme equips legal professionals with the skills and insights they need to bring successful cases, offering valuable entry points into the realm of European law.

EU law is often associated with economic rights, but it can also be a powerful tool for championing fundamental rights. By embracing the EU system, lawyers gain a more European perspective on litigating human rights cases and the potential to take cases to the international stage via the Strasbourg court.

Judit, Kieran, and Noémie discuss a Rule of Law case they studied during the STARLIGHT programme and share their insights.

Discover the true potential of uniting legal minds with diverse backgrounds and experiences. STARLIGHT is all about sharing tips and tricks to navigate the Luxembourg court, where lawyers can champion the rights of individuals denied their fundamental rights.

Explore the importance of breaking free from a single-minded legal approach and embracing collaboration for a greater cause. STARLIGHT, a network of dedicated lawyers, is on a mission to revolutionise the way we defend fundamental rights across Europe.

Stefan and Karolina discuss a Criminal Justice case they studied during the STARLIGHT programme and share their insights. 

The STARLIGHT project continues into its second year and was launched via a webinar on 13 October 2023, 10:00 - 11:30 CET.

The launch featured a panel discussion on the power of strategic litigation with distinguished experts and STARLIGHT Year I participants, as well as a short presentation of the practicalities of the programme, such as the structure, the eligibility criteria, and the application procedure.

Watch the webinar video via this link here.

This project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme of the European Union.

STARLIGHT - Strategic Litigation for Rights in Europe - a joint programme of the Hertie School and Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC), in collaboration with the Hertie School Centre for Fundamental Rights, was launched via a webinar on 20 January 2023, Friday, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET. The project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme of the European Union.

The launch featured a panel discussion on the power of strategic litigation and had as speakers Prof. Başak Çalı, PhD, Professor of International Law and Co-Director of Hertie School’s Centre for Fundamental Rights, Prof. Dr. Patrick Krauskopf of the ZHAW School of Management and Law, Grusa Matevzic, Lawyer at the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, and Ingrid Bellander Todino, Head of the Unit Fundamental Rights Policy of the European Commission. Afterwhich, there was an opportunity to present the Call for Application of the STARLIGHT programme for year 2023.