In a one-day workshop at the Centre for Fundamental Rights, scholars from leading human rights research centres explored legal challenges and practical approaches to protecting human rights amid armed conflict.
On 13 June 2025, a research workshop under the theme Protection of human rights in the context of armed conflict took place at the Centre for Fundamental Rights at the Hertie School in Berlin. Co-organised with the Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford, the workshop brought together established scholars and early-career researchers to address pressing questions about safeguarding human rights during warfare.
The workshop opened with a panel exploring the protection of economic and social rights in armed conflict, highlighting their vital connection to core civil rights, including the right to life and freedom from torture. The second panel focused on civil and political rights, such as privacy, freedom of expression and assembly, and reframing narratives surrounding victims of hostilities.
The afternoon session examined the complex interplay between human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the law governing the use of force. Concluding panels addressed issues of legal interpretation and accountability, drawing on perspectives from both international courts and non-governmental organisations.
“This workshop was a perfect opportunity to deeply engage with cutting-edge research on how human rights law can effectively constrain armed conflicts,” said Anastasiia Zhuravel, PhD Candidate at the Centre for Fundamental Rights and a co-convener of the workshop.
“It was crucial to reflect on how to preserve the legitimacy and integration of human rights law with humanitarian norms, the law on the use of force, and accountability frameworks, and to debate the regulatory challenges posed by a dynamic as destructive yet omnipresent as armed conflict.”
A total of 14 papers were presented during the workshop. Building on the strong interest in the topic and the high calibre of the work-in-progress shared, the Centre will dedicate its upcoming Fall Semester Colloquium to further exploring this theme. Further details will be available here.