NDU launches country’s first human rights Master’s program

By Olivia Alabaster

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s first Master’s program in human rights was officially launched at the Notre Dame University Thursday night.

With only two students currently enrolled, the university hopes the launch, which featured a keynote speech from former United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Novak, will help attract more students to the two-year course.

Dr. Elie al-Hindy, chair of the Political Science department, under which the MA falls, told The Daily Star that there is a need to equip students in the region with the skills to deal with pressing human rights concerns.

“With the way things are going in the region, and in Lebanon, we are seeing more need for educated people who can do the research and lobbying and have the skills that we need,” to monitor human rights issues, he said, while also enabling them to prevent societies from moving backward in terms of social development.

In terms of Lebanon specifically, Hindy said the course would focus both on civil and political life as well as social and economic aspects, both of which need to be addressed domestically.

Students will look at contemporary events, which might include, Hindy said, looking at vulnerable groups such as migrant workers.

The Master’s program is designed to give graduates a “multi-dimensional approach to human rights,” by combining training in the relevant theories, laws and treaties, with an introduction to the practical skills necessary, such as advocacy, lobbying, networking and reporting.

As part of the course, students can choose to intern with a local or regional nongovernmental organization, and the course directors have already been in talks with Amnesty International, Justice without Borders and national human rights NGOs Alef and KAFA, among others.

Hindy said they are looking to expand cooperation, and hope to work with U.N. agencies and other global bodies in the future.

The course, a statement from the university said, “offers students the chance to gain both theoretical and hands on human rights experience, confronting them directly with its challenges and achievements prior to entering the career market.”

Aside from the core requirements of international relations, international organizations and research methods, students must choose several elective courses. Topics include human rights in religious thought, the law of war and information technology and other courses on human rights.

Dina Darwiche, 21, has just started the MA in human rights, having become interested in the topic during her BA in international relations, also at NDU, which she completed in the summer.

She is especially interested in the issue of violence against women and children in Lebanon and hopes to complete her thesis looking into this topic.

“It’s a major problem and people don’t really acknowledge how women and children are treated in this region compared to other regions,” she said.

The issue of “honor” still plays a big part in women’s rights in the region, according to Darwiche, whereas men can “do anything.”

She plans to carry out field work after completing her MA, and then complete a PhD. Also, she is keen to work with NGOs and work to make a difference to people’s lives.

“A lot of people in Lebanon lose hope and think things will never get better, but I don’t agree. I want to work to improve people’s living conditions.”

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on October 14, 2011, on page 3.


(2011-10-14/The Daily Star)