Introduction Anti-Discrimination Diversity Asylum European Neighbourhood and Integration Policy... 12

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3 Contents Introduction... 5 Anti-Discrimination Diversity Asylum... 9 European Neighbourhood and Integration Policy Women s Rights Children s Rights Trafficking in Human Beings Human Rights in Business and Development Cooperation Human Dignity and Public Security Human Rights Education and Education for Democratic Citizenship Staff Finances Events Publications Projects Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights LBI and Research Association A-1010 Vienna, Freyung 6 (Schottenhof), Hof 1, Stiege II T +43/1/ , bim.office@univie.ac.at, For photographs: BIM, if not mentioned otherwise Vienna, June 2016

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5 Dear readers and friends, Dear partners and supporters of the BIM, With our annual report 2015 we present an overview of the BIM s work during the last year and the manifold activities, projects and achievements of the institute and its staff members, both on the international as well as on the national level. Asylum and refugee protection as core human rights issues have been of particular importance for the BIM s thematic foci for many years. Due to recent developments and the high relevance of the matter for Austria as well as for the European Union and on the global level, we expanded our work in this field: On the national level we commented e.g. on the Austrian law amendment in autumn 2015 from a human rights perspective. On the European level we analysed the situation of Klaus Zehner refugees in Hungary and the shortcomings of the existing EU asylum system. Preparatory work for the study A new Asylum Policy for Europe?! started the study aims at analysing existing proposals for solutions from a human rights and refugee rights perspective and at developing new recommendations. The results of the study will be published and discussed during an expert workshop in Vienna in early summer In the field of migration, BIM also puts an emphasis on EU climate policies as an important driver for climate-induced migration or displacement and other human rights violations. Several research projects in the fields of human rights and business deal with complaints mechanisms and possibilities for improved protection in the form of judicial and non-judicial remedies. Our main focus lies on the analysis of mechanisms that can be used to guarantee effective access to justice for victims of corporate human rights violations. The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture obliges each member state to set up a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) monitoring prisons and elaborating recommendations for the prevention of torture. One of the major challenges for preventive monitoring mechanisms is the followup to their recommendations. In 2015, BIM, in cooperation with the University of Bristol, published a comprehensive study on Enhancing impact of national preventive mechanisms. The study included examples of good practice and as one central finding showed a clear lack of strategic approach and coordination within the existing NPMs. Thus, in a follow-up project with the Academy of European Law in Trier BIM works on the improvement of cooperation between NPMs and the judiciary. Our long-standing engagement with the rights of children and adolescents in custody is pursued by a project that supports the implementation of the Council of Europe s Guidelines on Child Friendly Justice. The aim is to provide information, knowledge and training to national juvenile justice authorities and staff working with juvenile offenders at the European level, in order to promote a better and more consistent implementation of international standards concerning children in conflict with the law. Furthermore, in 2015 the team worked on questions of migration and poverty, child protection and different forms of child trafficking and its often stereotypical linkage with Roma communities. Julia Planitzer at the International Symposium: human trafficking: global and local perspectives, Innsbruck, November

6 Hannes Tretter, Stanko Balu and Barbara Liegl at the kick-off event The BIM has a leading role in the implementation of EU Twinning projects with a focus on antidiscrimination structures as part of European integration policy saw the kick-off of the project Support to the advancement of human rights and zero tolerance to discrimination in Serbia. In October 2015, the final event and certification of the trainthe-trainer programme for future Equality Trainers from Kosovar institutions of education, police, judiciary and administration took place in Pristina as part of our EU Twinning project against homophobia and transphobia. FRAME, a large scale FP7 project, analyses the internal and external EU human rights law and policies and develops recommendations for policy-makers in a collaborative effort of 19 partner institutions in Europe, China, India, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, and the US. In 2015, BIM researchers contributed inter alia to reports on the global governance protection system, EU foreign policy systems in human rights promotion, and on the coherence of human rights policymaking in EU and related institutions and presented the results of their work in workshops in Brussels and Turku and at the annual conference of the Association of Human Rights Institutes in Belgrade. BIM also contributed to the FRAME Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) The EU and human rights. In the field of human rights education and education for democratic citizenship (HRE/EDC) the BIM has a strong focus on schools. In 2015, polis, the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools, reacted to current challenges and provided teachers with information about sensitive issues such as extremism and (de)radicalisation and migration and asylum. polis was commissioned with the coordination of an important series of workshops on deradicalisation and prevention by the Federal Ministry of Education and acted as cooperation partner for many events on this topic targeting teachers and multipliers. Patricia Hladschik discussing preventive strategies with Fabian Reicher (backbone) at the WUK Counselling and Education Day 2015 WUK BIM staff is also extensively involved in human rights education in the academic and vocational field, e.g. in master programmes like the European Master s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) or the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights, in the Fundamental Rights Trainings for Austrian Judgeship Trainees or as organiser of and lecturers at the Straniak Academy for Human Rights and Democracy which took place in Montenegro in September 2015 for the third time. The BIM, in 2015, made an important step forward in terms of structuring and expanding the institute s fundraising activities. With the establishment of the BIM CIRCLE, a community of private donors and supporters, we intend to further secure the financial basis of the institute and complement our project-driven research activities. The BIM CIRCLE newsletter informs about current developments, achievements, upcoming thematic issues and serves as a supplement to the regular BIM newsletter. A newly established website informs about the first successes of the initiative ( humanrights.at/). In addition, the BIM is still participating in the legacy campaign of the Austrian Fundraising Association vergissmeinnicht.at to encourage people to contribute to a culture of human rights by donating their legacy to the BIM. 6

7 Last but not least, the year 2015 saw the evaluation of the institute by the Ludwig Boltzmann Association an intense process of self-evaluation followed by a two-day on-site visit of an international evaluation panel. The very positive result is an important recognition of our work under the umbrella of the Ludwig Boltzmann Association. We would like to thank you for your cooperation, your support of and your interest in our work and hope to meet you at one of our many events in Enjoy reading! Patricia Hladschik, Manfred Nowak, Fiona Steinert, Hannes Tretter on behalf of the BIM team Vienna, June

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9 The rights to non-discrimination and equal access to justice constitute crosscutting issues in different human rights areas. They are of specific relevance as entry points in policy and institutional processes aiming at the implementation of the principles of human rights, democracy and rule of law. During the last years, the team has broadened its core anti-discrimination expertise. Mainstreaming of antidiscrimination reflects this trend and can be witnessed in how the anti-discrimination regime is developing: Equality Bodies (EB) are expected to become drivers in promoting structural equality. Other institutions like Ombuds Institutions (OI), National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI), etc. start taking up anti-discrimination issues. Equality bodies are integrated into NHRIs, who then have the potential to analyse human rights issues through anti-discrimination lenses. A question still open is whether and how the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) is suitable for promoting and mainstreaming anti-discrimination and equality issues when implementing EU law. The guiding research questions of the team are: What role does the EU play in promoting human rights internally and externally? What are the role of EBs and NHRIs in the promotion of access to justice and equal opportunities? How has the CFREU contributed to the protection of human rights in Europe and in the EU member states? What kind of (new) challenges do asylum seekers and displaced persons face when trying to gain access to asylum and access to justice? Research implemented covers human rights protection systems on different levels (UN, EU e.g. CFREU, regional and local level) and analyses a broad range of policies and institutions in different national contexts. Some of the projects look at the link between human rights and the concepts of democracy, governance and rule of law. They aim at raising awareness among decision and policy makers for the impact of their policies on the protection and promotion of human rights, and to issue recommendations on how to adequately integrate human rights into policy development and formation. The team has established an adequate balance between basic research and consultation projects, which benefit from the results and recommendations generated within the research projects. Acces to Justice A strong link between the broad range of projects implemented by the team is access to justice, which should be guaranteed by both legal provisions at the international, European and national level as well as by institutional structures. The projects analyse the legal framework conditions as well as the institutional structures responsible for determining the opportunities of various vulnerable groups (e.g. migrants, asylum seekers, persons affected by discrimination, etc.) to become equal members of an inclusive society. Furthermore, they look at those factors contributing to raising awareness and developing a positive attitude to equality, the right to non-discrimination and the right to asylum among the public. Theoretical and Methodological Approaches The team develops its theoretical and methodological approaches in the context of the research questions and the project objectives and adapts them whenever new findings or upcoming challenges require it. E.g. institutional theories, discourse theoretical approaches, European integration theories and state theories have successfully provided a solid analytical basis for our research. We tried to adapt and apply a Human Rights Based Approach as well as a Human Rights Impact Assessment for two research projects, which was quite challenging for several reasons, e.g. due to a lack of data. 9

10 We use a broad range of methodologies to analyse legislation, case law, quasi-judicial decisions, policies and actors in relevant policy fields (e.g. in the field of asylum, anti-discrimination, integration, development, climate change) and to generate primary data (e.g. expert interviews, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, textual analysis, questionnaires, case studies, pilot trainings). Within the team, we work with legal and political science expertise, which is quite a fruitful combination for analysing policy and institutional processes, however calls for careful definition of pertinent terms in advance to ensure a common basis of understanding of key concepts. Climate-related Migration During the last years, the team has managed to deepen and enhance its expertise on international and European legal and institutional framework conditions for climate-related migration. This topic allows for the formulation of innovative recommendations targeting policy and decision makers and opens the opportunity to support the development of a new policy field in accordance with international and European human rights obligations. Main Projects 2015 ClimAccount: Human Rights Accountability of the EU and Austria for Climate Policies in Third Countries and their Possible Effects on Migration ( ) ClimAccount is a two-year research project financed by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund that sheds light on the complex relationship between climate change, migration and human rights by focussing on the effect of climate change policies on the human rights of persons in third countries and migration, displacement and resettlement considering the national, regional, EU- and Austrian level. The focus of the project is on the human rights accountability of EU and Austrian climate policies in third countries. The project started with drafting a baseline report containing an overview and analysis of extraterritorial human rights obligations in the context of climate change policy-induced migration, nternational law concerning displacement, resettlement and migration relevant for the study, the institutional framework of the EU s and Austria s climate policies and the concept and dimensions of the Human Rights Impact Assessment used in the project. Moreover, in order to reach final conclusions, three in-depth case studies of climate projects associated with these negative human rights impacts have been selected and conducted (Barro Blanco dam in Panama, Bujagali dam in Uganda, Olkaria geothermal project in Kenya). All three projects are registered under the Kyoto Protocol s Clean Development Mechanism and are largely financed by European banks the major part of the case studies were carried out, case study reports were drafted and preliminary results were presented at a workshop in Thessaloniki in September. EQUINET Study: The Sanctions Regime in Discrimination Cases and its Effects The network of European equality bodies, Equinet, has commissioned BIM expert Katrin Wladasch to carry out a study on the sanctions regime in discrimination cases and its effects. The study aimed to identify different types of sanctions as a tool for fostering the implementation of the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination. A specific focus was given to the (potential) role of equality bodies in strengthening effectiveness, proportionality and dissuasiveness of sanctions regimes. 10

11 Important Events 2015 Opportunities and Pitfalls of Collecting (In)equality Data Keynote speech held by Monika Mayrhofer at the conference Collecting (in)equality data. 5 May 2015, Zagreb, Croatia Structure and Content of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union Presentation held by Katrin Wladasch at the seminar Charting the Charter organised by Equinet. 16 June 2015, Brussels, Belgium Operationalizing ETOs in the context of climate financed projects Presentation by Monika Mayrhofer and Jane Hofbauer at the workshop on Climate Justice in Environmental Migration, COST Action IS September 2015, Thessaloniki, Greece Universality of Human Rights: an Ideal or a Chameleon? A comparison between the EU and other regional human rights systems Presentation held by Monika Mayrhofer at AHRI Human Rights Research Conference September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Human Rights Talk: Has the EU s common asylum policy failed? Panel discussion with Margit Ammer and Manfred Nowak. 20 October 2015, Vienna Selected Publications 2015 Ammer, Margit Menschenrechtliche Verpflichtungen in der aktuellen Flüchtlingssituation. BIM Position No. 6. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, pp. Frahm, Michael / Mayer, Alisa The legal importance and implementation of the Charter in Austria. In: Making the Charter of Fundamental Rights a living instrument. Ed. by Giuseppe Palmisano. Leiden: Nijhoff, pp Mayrhofer, Monika Minderjährige Asylsuchende und Flüchtlinge: das Recht auf Bildung in Österreich. Hürden, Versäumnisse und Barrieren bei der Umsetzung von internationalen Menschenrechtsstandards und EU-Rechtsnormen. Vienna: ÖGfE Policy Brief 28, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Zarrehparvar, Mandana [et al.] Report on in-depth studies of selected factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights in the context of globalisation. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 2 Deliverable No. 2, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Kessing, Peter Vedel [et al.] Report on factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 2 Deliverable No. 2.1, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Chavez, Carmela / Hegde, Venkatachala [et al.]: Report on the mapping study on relevant actors in human rights protection. (FRAME) Large- Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 4 Deliverable No. 4.1, pp. Wladasch, Katrin The sanctions regime in discrimination cases and its effects. Brussels: Equinet, pp. 11

12 The team s work focuses on the promotion of human rights through the EU s enlargement policy and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in a two-fold way: on the operative level, human rights standards are directly being promoted in certain projects in the enlargement respectively neighbourhood countries through providing the BIM s expertise for capacity building and policy advice. Here the focus of the team s work lies on the implementation of Twinning projects as the key instrument for acquis approximation and institution building. On a research level, human rights promotion in the said policy fields and the instruments applied are analytically assessed, drawing also from insights gained in the afore mentioned projects. The two areas of activity thus feed into each other, and allow the team to work at the interface between practice and theory. The underlying research questions are: Which role do human rights and their realisation play in EU enlargement policy and the ENP, even more in view of the current economic crisis and geopolitical destabilisation? In which ways does the strengthening of public sector institutions as well as civil society actors contribute to sustainable promotion of human rights in the partner countries? Which factors influence the success of human rights related projects in the said policy fields? In how far are recent endeavours for a comprehensive EU human rights policy related to enlargement policy/enp? Is there policy coherence and consistency, also with regard to EU internal policy? The BIM s engagement in the enlargement and ENP context follows the main goal of contributing to change within the partner countries, for which the process of EU approximation opens a window of opportunity, especially as regards accession countries. Policy Knowledge as Basis for Strategic Decisions Over the last years, the team took further steps in its strategic approach to project acquisition by strengthening the thematic foci anti-discrimination / equal treatment and human rights in the justice and security sector, which allowed for synergies and interactions in terms of knowledge transfer saw not only the successful continuation of the project against homophobia and transphobia in Kosovo, but also the launch of two new pertinent projects in Macedonia and Serbia, both including anti-discrimination components. In addition, 2015 brought the opportunity for BIM to participate in another project on gender equality in Croatia. With award of this project, which will commence in 2016, the BIM could celebrate having been involved in 30 Twinning projects since Recently, the team also succeeded in broadening the geographical scope of its Twinning activities to the Southern Neighbourhood region, i.e. Morocco. Next to the running project with the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights, implementation of a second project, targeting the National Human Rights Council, could be started in autumn The team s strategic approach was supported by continuous research into the EU s policy priorities and programming as well as corresponding national policies, including fact-finding activities on the ground. Further increased policy knowledge, gained also at relevant conferences and workshops, not only turned out beneficial for successfully carrying forth the team s Twinning activities, but could also be significantly incorporated into new research activities on enlargement policy. This refers primarily to the team s participation in the FRAME project, which brought the opportunity to attend to the research questions more comprehensively by contributing its enlargement expertise to two FRAME studies, (see p. 21) published in 2015 resp. forthcoming in

13 The team also continues to coordinate the BIM s involvement in the TAIEX instrument, which has proven a very apt instrument for both providing the BIM s expertise in a targeted manner and initiating or complementing other activities. In 2015, the BIM hosted a TAIEX study visit on the rights of LGBTI persons for a delegation from Montenegro. Apart from the enlargement and ENP context, the BIM, due to its Twinning experience, had been invited in 2013 to participate in a major project under the EC s Development Cooperation Instrument to promote rule of law in Kyrgyzstan. Implementation of this project, carried out in close cooperation with other BIM teams, intensified in 2015 by completing the assessment phase on oversight mechanisms and 2017 will focus on ensuing capacity building measures. Bridging Internal and External Dimensions of EU Policy Another form of interaction consists with activities focusing more on EU internal human rights policy and the work of the EU Agency for Fundamental rights (FRA) in particular, which, after Manfred Nowak succeeded Hannes Tretter as Austrian Member of the FRA Management Board in 2012, continue to form a further subject area for the team by providing scientific assistance. This includes research on FRA-related issues, facilitating internal exchange on these and disseminating information on FRA s activities among stakeholders as well as the public. These tasks furthermore interlinked with another strand of participation in the FRAME project dealing with human rights policymaking in EU institutions. This endeavour also looked at questions of policy coherence, which always makes it necessary to bridge external and internal dimensions of EU policy. This is all the more the case in times when the EU very much takes the role of human rights promoter in external relations, but faces increasing criticism for its internal performance and for applying double-standards. It is against this background of waning credibility that the BIM implements its projects in the partner countries, which are subject to a high degree of scrutiny and held to rather strict pre-accession conditions, while inconsistencies persist within the Union. Main Projects 2015 Twinning Project against Homophobia and Transphobia in Kosovo ( ) The project focuses on a wide spectrum of awareness-raising and training activities across the public sector in order to enhance effective protection against discrimination. Under the motto normally different, it furthermore entails an analysis of the existing anti-discrimination legislation and the institutional structures in relation to sexual orientation and identity as well as measures for improving access for the LGBTI community to legal and psychological counselling. Finally, it aims at supporting the work of the national Advisory and Coordination Group for the Rights of the LGBTI Community. Twinning Project Strengthening the Capacities of the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco ( ) The project in Morocco aims at supporting the activities of the Delegation in mainstreaming human rights in government policies and administrative practice by strengthening its organisational structures and technical capacities. Cooperating with Spanish and French partners, the BIM is mainly involved in the implementation of trainings as well as the development of indicators and evaluation. 13

14 Promotion of the Respect of Rule of Law with particular Emphasis on Transparency and Accountability in Kyrgyzstan ( ) The Kyrgyz Government has placed the strengthening of the Rule of Law at the top of its political, economic and social agenda. This major EU funded project supports this focus. As Austrian partner in a consortium composed of EU Member States under the lead of the German GIZ, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights is responsible for implementing specific activities related to human rights under the Component 1 Enhancing the Capacity and Effectiveness of Oversight Mechanisms in close co-operation with the Danish Institute for Human Rights. At the BIM, staff from different teams is jointly working on the implementation bringing together relevant expertise from the human dignity and public security, the anti-discrimination as well as the European Neighbourhood Policy background. Twinning Light Project Promotion of the Ombudsman Competences and Enhancement of its Capacities in Macedonia ( ) The project, carried out in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board, aims at enhancing the capacities of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, notably in the area of torture prevention, anti-discrimination and children s rights. Furthermore, a major objective is the strengthening of the Ombudsman s visibility in line with international standards and best practices. Aside from the central office in Skopje which leads the general work in the field of human rights protection, six regional offices also handle complaints and maintain communication at the local level. All these offices together with the central one in Skopje take part in the project activities. Important Events 2015 Round Table and Study Visit of the Macedonian National Preventive Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights On 26 June 2015, a roundtable on the situation of and challenges with undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in Macedonia was organized by the Ombudsman Office of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board as well as the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights. The event gathered international experts and representatives from both state authorities and civil society and enabled an exchange of knowledge and experiences between Macedonia and the EU. This exchange continued from 13 to 16 July 2015 during a four-day study visit of a delegation from the Macedonian Ombudsman Office to Austria, which allowed to share experiences and best practices on the monitoring of detention places for migrants and asylum seekers and on the prevention of torture in places of deprivation of liberty. June and July 2015, Skopje and Vienna Kick-off event of the Twinning Project Strengthening the Capacities of the National Human Rights Council in Rabat, Morocco Driss El Yazami (President of the National Human Rights Council CNDH / Conseil National des Droits de l Homme) and Rupert Joy (Head of the EU Delegation to Morocco) chaired the high-ranking kick-off event with ambassadors of all involved EU Member States (France, Austria and the Netherlands) and representatives of ministries, partner organisations and CSOs. Patricia Hladschik as BIM Project Leader presented the institute and gave an overview of the Austrian activities foreseen in the project (organisational development, trainings and thematic guides for the CNDH staff). 12 October 2015, Rabat 14

15 Kick-off Event of the Twinning Project Support to the Advancement of Human Hights and Zero Tolerance to Discrimination in Serbia The Office for Human and Minority Rights, the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights as well as the Slovenian Office for National Minorities as junior partner jointly launched the 18-months Twinning project. The kick-off event aimed at presenting the activities of the project and at reaching out to the relevant stakeholders working in the area of human rights and anti-discrimination. The event was attended by about 80 representatives of ministries, independent bodies, local self-governments, international organizations and CSOs. Hannes Tretter and Barbara Liegl gave inputs on EU standards and Serbia s opportunities within the Twinning project for further developing its laws and policies promoting human rights and equality. 19 October 2015, Belgrade Final Event and Certification of the Train-the-Trainer Programme in Kosovo Resident Twinning Adviser Dieter Schindlauer and his team organised the final event and certification of the train-the-trainer programme for future Equality Trainers with a special focus on LGBTI-issues in the framework of the Twinning project against homophobia and transphobia. 15 newly trained trainers, coming from Kosovar institutions of education, police, judiciary and administration, received their certificates. Rainer Hiltunen from the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities opened the ceremony with his key note speech On the Road to Equality. Libor Chlad from the EU Office in Kosovo, Sadete Demaj-Kajtazi from the Advisory Office for Good Governance and Judge Biljana Rexhiq thanked the newly trained trainers, as well as the project for their effort in realising this programme and their continuous enthusiasm and work for equality. 23 October 2015, Pristina Selected Publications 2015 Fraczek, Susanne / Huszka, Beáta / Hüttner, Claudia / Körtvélyesi, Zsolt / Majtényi, Balázs, Romsics, Gergely Report on mapping, analysing and implementing foreign policy instruments in human rights promotion. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 6 Deliverable No IX, 200 pp. Hladschik, Patricia Normally different. Guidelines on how to identify discrimination in textbooks, focusing on gender and sexual orientation. Pristina: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.],

16 The team has engaged in a process to make its research profile more coherent and findings more visible, and, thus, identified three main areas of expertise: prevention of and protection from violence and exploitation, access to justice and rights-based monitoring. Research within these three areas follows a crosscutting group-focused approach (women/gender dimension, child/age dimension, trafficked persons/vulnerable groups dimension, linking both gender and age). Consequently, the following research questions have been identified for complementary guidance of the team s research programme: What are the current challenges in prevention of and protection from violence and exploitation of specific target groups? What are the main gaps in ensuring access to justice for the three target groups and what are effective means to improve access to justice? What are the essential elements of effective monitoring of human rights implementation in relation to the specific target groups? Participatory research, e.g. with victims of violence based on gender and disability, with school children or juveniles in custody, has become a consistent feature of the team s work methodology. Target groups and beneficiaries were not considered merely as objects of research, but rather as subjects with explicit active roles in the research process. For instance, the project on violence against women with disabilities included more than 160 women through focus groups and in-depth interviews. This project is also an example for an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to human rights research, as the methodology was developed jointly with experts from political science, sociology as well as gender and disability studies. Moreover, the project also exemplifies the importance of translational research: next to research studies, separate accessible publications and tools for e.g. service providers as well as women with disabilities have been produced, including audio files and easy-read brochures and videos in sign language. Evidence of the team s expertise can be found in various memberships of professional groups and enhanced visibility among the academic community: Sabine Mandl is part of an inter-ministerial/institutional group on women, peace and security (UN SR Resolution 1325) and Julia Planitzer and Helmut Sax are advisory members of the Task Force against Human Trafficking, the key coordinating body in Austria. Helmut Sax also acts as contact person and representative of the University of Vienna for the Child Rights Erasmus Academic Network. Furthermore, Helmut Sax continues to be member of the Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). Sabine Mandl and Julia Planitzer contributed to a major legal Commentary on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its implementation in Austria and Switzerland, which was published in Julia Planitzer became member of the editorial board of the Journal of Trafficking and Human Exploitation in Findings of the project on violence against women with disabilities were presented by Sabine Mandl at two international academic conferences (Vienna and Belfast) and Julia Planitzer acted as rapporteur at the 15th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights focusing on trafficking in human beings. 16

17 Although an essential component of any human rights-based approach, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms remain significantly under-developed for specific target groups, such as women with disabilities, persons in institutional care and juveniles deprived of their liberty. Confirmed by the findings of the project on violence against women with disabilities, the team developed follow-up research proposals in 2015 explicitly addressing lack of effective monitoring in institutions of care. Main Projects 2015 Access to Specialised Victim Support Services for Women with Disabilities who have Experienced Violence ( ) This EU Daphne project has been implemented by BIM as the leading institution together with NINLIL (empowerment and counseling for women with disabilities), queraum (institute for social and cultural research) and universities from Germany, Iceland and UK. The findings provided insights into the manifold forms of violence women with disabilities are exposed to, and into the problematic mechanisms characterized by power imbalances and dependence of other persons and institutions. When seeking for formal assistance in case of violence, they often encounter barriers to accessing mainstream victim support services. Such obstacles may include physical barriers (lack of ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, etc.), but also missing access to information for disabled women (website, brochures in accessible format such as easy language, audio files, sign languages videos, etc.) and barriers in the minds of support service providers, resulting from too little knowledge about the forms of violence and specific living situations of women with disabilities. The project findings and recommendations are available in various accessible formats, including in easy language, audio files and sign language video, and in different languages. CONFRONT Countering New Forms of Roma Children Trafficking: Participatory Approach ( ) The EU funded project, led by the Center for the Study of Democracy in Bulgaria, involves partners from seven countries (BG, RO, HU, SK, GR, IT, AT); particular effort is placed also on engaging directly with Roma communities as essential partners in efforts to protect children s rights. The project analyses potential risks of Roma children in Austria to become victims of trafficking, through e.g. forced begging or criminal activities. In the Austrian context, public debate in recent years has often seen rather stereotypical considerations, linking Roma children with exploitation and trafficking; for a more differentiated view project research included interviews with various stakeholders, including Roma organisations, but also with civil society initiatives in the context of poverty migration e.g. in Salzburg and Linz; furthermore an analysis of reporting about Roma in Austrian daily newspapers was conducted. A round table stakeholder meeting on child protection and poverty migration in Vienna as well as a pilot mediation process with Roma organisations are also part of the project. 17

18 Corporate Liability regarding Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Labour Exploitation and Access to Effective Remedy ( ) In recent years more knowledge has been gained on trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation. More and more cases have come to the fore in many economic sectors, including agriculture, construction, garments, care and cleaning work. Nevertheless, access to effective remedies is often out of reach for trafficked persons. Additionally, it is often difficult for those affected to hold companies accountable in case of labour exploitation. In 2015, research started concerning corporate liability regarding trafficking in human beings (THB) for the purpose of labour exploitation and exploited workers existing possibilities to have access to effective remedies. Legal avenues will be identified that can be used in order to claim compensation from corporations. Exploited workers and their legal possibilities to claim compensation from corporations by criminal or civil proceedings are at the centre of this project. The study will focus on Austria and assess to what extent the Austrian legislation provides for means of sanctioning corporations in the context of THB. Important Events 2015 Access to Specialised Victim Support Services for Women with Disabilities who have Experienced Violence The conference, opened by the Federal Minister for Education and Women s Affairs, marked the end of the project Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence. As part of a comparative study carried out in four countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, Iceland and Austria), the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM) investigated how women with disabilities experience violence and what support they receive in such situations. Women with disabilities who had experienced violence and staff of victim support service organisations developed recommendations for victim support service organisations as well as policymakers. 28 January 2015, Vienna Poverty Migration and Child Rights The Round Table took place within the on-going EU funded project CONFRONT Countering new forms of Roma children trafficking: Participatory approach that is carried out in Austria by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights in collaboration with ECPAT Austria. During this event child protection and poverty migration from a children s rights perspective was discussed. More than 30 representatives of state and non-governmental organisations from five federal provinces of Austria as well as experts from Bulgaria gathered at this networking event in Vienna. 26 March 2015, Vienna Women s Rights and Gender Equality: share experiences > new ways of thinking > shaping the future Sabine Mandl was responsible for the facilitation of a working group on violence against women and the documentation of the morning sessions, which focused on the international perspective of the realisation of women s rights, 20 years after the approval of the Beijing Platform for Action. The conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women s Affairs, several civil society organisations and the BIM. 10 June 2015, Vienna Roundtable The Situation and Challenges with Street Children in Macedonia: How to Ensure Access to their Rights The event was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Helmut Sax from BIM, who discussed his experiences in the research on child trafficking from a European perspective, how national practical responses can look like and how this topic is related to street children, as well as Werner Prinzjakowitsch from the Viennese Youth 18

19 Centres, who provided practical experiences on youth work with street children, youth welfare, foster care and networking with public authorities in Austria. 30 September 2015, Skopje Trainings on Human Rights for Representatives of the Police in Moldova Within the project ILECUs: Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in South East Europe by further Promoting International Law Enforcement Coordination Units which Combat Transnational Organized Crime, funded by the Austrian Development Agency, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights organised three 2-days trainings for police officers in different regions of Moldova on various human rights matters such as violence against women, acting and communication during a demonstration, smuggling and trafficking in human beings and data protection. Sabine Mandl and Julia Planitzer delivered the trainings together with Karl Raschbach (Special Unit Cobra/ Counter-terrorism unit), Johannes Steiner (Criminal Intelligence Service Austria) and Christof Tschohl (Research Institute). 30 September to 9 October 2015 Selected Publications 2015 Mandl, Sabine / Schachner, Anna / Sprenger, Claudia / Planitzer, Julia Zugang von Frauen mit Behinderungen zu Opferschutz- und Unterstützungseinrichtungen bei Gewalterfahrungen. Abschließender Projektbericht. Vienna [et al.]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Planitzer, Julia / Sax, Helmut Case study trafficking in human beings, fostering human rights among European policies. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 11 Deliverable No. 11.2, pp. Mandl, Sabine / Planitzer, Julia Implementation of Art. 7 CEDAW in Austria (in German), in: Kommentar zum Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen zur Beseitigung jeder Form von Diskriminierung der Frau. Ed. by Erika Schläppi, Silvia Ulrich and Judith Wyttenbach. Bern: Stämpfli,

20 The team engages with the following research questions: How can a Human Rights Based Approach to Development Cooperation and Business be further implemented? How can international challenges such as the financial crisis and the growing political influence of non-state actors be addressed? Which international standards must be developed and enforced in view of these challenges? Looking at the international development cooperation and business discourse from a human rights perspective, the economic crisis and its impact on economic, social and cultural rights (ESC rights), the follow-up process to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain at the core of the debate. The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has gained considerable momentum, and continues to be a primary focus of the BIM s work in the development area. The Economic Crisis The Economic Crisis and its negative impact on ESC rights continue to be of grave concern on a global scale. The UN and the Council of Europe institutions emphasized the need for maintaining a functioning social network while responding to national situations of austerity. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights suggests a twelve-point agenda for safeguarding human rights, such as conducting systematic human rights and equality impact assessments before and after crisis response policies are adopted. Regarding the most important ESC rights instrument on the European level, the European Social Charter, the 2015 conclusions of its monitoring body, the European Committee of Social Rights (of which Karin Lukas is the Austrian member), continue to highlight the negative impact of the crisis on social rights such as working time and fair remuneration. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Follow-Up Process The human rights responsibilities of companies were further analysed in the follow-up to and implementation of the UN Guiding Principles Respect, Protect, Remedy of the UN Representative on Human Rights and Business, John Ruggie. The human rights and business team at BIM continued its research on the third pillar of the UN Principles (Access to Remedy). This research focuses on complaint mechanisms established by companies and multi-stakeholder initiatives to give victims of human rights violations by companies the right to an effective remedy. In addition, a comprehensive dissertation project has analysed state and corporate human rights responsibilities of national development and export credit agencies. In this context, the team will continue analysing the creation of grievance mechanisms for development cooperation and export credit supported undertakings. 20 Post-MDGs and SDGs Process The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) concentrated on the needs of the poorest persons in the world by fulfilling measurable targets until The core issues for the development of a Post- MDGs agenda refer to globally valid objectives while taking into account local contexts, indicators for their achievement, and how affected groups can be supported from the perspective of a human rights approach. This approach was supported by 17 UN special procedures that issued a statement calling for equality as a stand-alone principle and the strengthening of accountability mechanisms to fully

21 implement the agenda. The political process culminated in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with strong human rights implications, also for the countries of the North. The team contributes to the Post-MDGs and SDGs debate through the research project GLOBAL VALUE (Assessing the Impacts of Multinational Corporations on GLOBAL Development and VALUE Creation) bridging the two core team topics of development and business in relation to human rights. The primary objective of the project is to establish an innovative framework for assessing impacts of multinational corporations on issues related to the MDGs and SDGs. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is the most important international legal instrument for persons with disabilities. Article 32 of the UNCRPD includes a provision on development cooperation which implies that development programmes must actively support the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities and assure overall inclusion. The implementation of the UNCRPD sets a considerable challenge for development agencies and policy makers. Major tasks of the development team in 2014 and 2015 for the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) included consultations in the field of human rights and business, as well as advice on the ADA s country strategy for Bhutan, Moldova and Ethiopia. Main Projects 2015 GLOBAL VALUE Assessing the Impacts of Multinational Corporations on GLOBAL Development and VALUE Creation ( ) This research project assesses the impacts of multinational corporations on sustainable development. It will provide a framework for assessing impacts on development related issues such as human rights, transparency, and anti-corruption, a toolkit for companies and a set of recommendations for decision makers in policy, business and CSOs on how to enhance responsible competitiveness and complementarity of public and private sector activities in the development context. FRAME Fostering Human Rights among European Policies ( ) FRAME analyses the internal and external EU human rights law and policies and develops recommendations for policy-makers in a collaborative effort of 19 partner institutions in Europe, China, India, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, and the US. In 2015, researchers at the BIM contributed to reports on the global governance protection system, EU foreign policy systems in human rights promotion, and on the coherence of human rights policymaking in EU and related institutions, as well as an in-depth study on selected factors that enable or hinder the protection of human rights. The project s second policy brief with the support of BIM was completed in November Research within the FRAME project is implemented in close collaboration of researchers from different BIM teams in the fields of anti-discrimination, European integration policy as well as trafficking in human beings. 21

22 Business and Human Rights Challenges for Cross Border Litigation in the European Union ( ) Training Session Access to remedies in the EU for victims of corporate related human rights abuse, , Haus der EU Patrick Harris The aim of this project is to explore judicial and non-judicial remedies within the EU to hold companies domiciled in a Member State liable for human rights violations for which they or their subcontractors are responsible, wherever the damage might have occurred. Within the project consortium, the BIM team mainly covers the research on non-judicial redress mechanisms, building on the research results of previous projects in this field. In December 2015, a major project event was organised by BIM on Access to remedies in the EU for victims of corporate related human rights abuse. Important Events 2015 Equality and the European Social Charter Lecture by Karin Lukas at the workshop Grammars of Equality Practices of Equality and Non-Discrimination. 29 May 2015, École Supérieure, Paris, France IBA Annual Conference The International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference brought together thousands of international legal professionals from all over the world. It offered nearly 200 working sessions on different legal issues and trends. The BIM contributed to two sessions: the first one was a presentation on corporate grievance mechanisms within the framework of a business breakfast; the second one a presentation on the rights of migrant workers which was part of a panel on The empowerment of diaspora workers. The aim of the BIM participation was to disseminate the research results gained through the latest projects and to support the human rights focus of these sessions. One of the major outcomes of the IBA conference resulted in the adoption of a guide for bar associations and business lawyers on the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ( 4 to 9 October 2015, Vienna HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: 2nd Chance or Last Chance? On 25 September 2015, the United Nations passed the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The goal is to contribute to global development, to encourage human well-being and to protect the environment. This should be achieved through the implementation of 17 agreed Sustainable Development Goals and their 169 sub-goals. The 2030 agenda builds on the Millennium Development Goals, on which international development cooperation has been based since the year The fight against poverty and hunger remains the centerpiece of the agenda. What new chances and opportunities does the 2030 agenda offer and what role international civil society has to play was discussed by NGO experts from Austria and abroad, as well as academics, among them Karin Lukas (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), and Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). 25 November 2015, Juridicum, Vienna 22

23 Non-judicial Complaints: A Balance between Business and Human Rights Interests? Presentation of project findings Non-judicial Complaints: A Balance between Business and Human Rights Interests? Patrick Harris This event presented preliminary findings of the BIM research project on non-judicial complaint mechanisms. Karin Lukas and Barbara Linder gave an overview over the mechanisms analysed (World Bank Group, OECD National Contact Points, multi-stakeholder initiatives and company-based mechanisms) and gave insights into the potential and limitations of these mechanisms. Trends point to an increase of non-judicial grievance mechanisms and the growing importance to address the linkages between judicial and non-judicial remedies. The presentation was held in conjunction with the event Access to remedies in the EU for victims of corporate related human rights abuse. 16 December 2015, Vienna (Haus der Europäischen Union) Selected Publications 2015 Häusler, Katharina / Lukas, Karin / Mayrhofer, Monika [et al.] Report on the global human rights protection governance system. Ed. by Monika Mayrhofer. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 4 Deliverable No. 2, pp. Linder, Barbara / Lukas, Karin Außergerichtliche Streitbeilegung im Fall von Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch Unternehmen. In: Nichtstaatliche Akteure und Interventionsverbot. Beiträge zum 39. Österreichischen Völkerrechtstag 2014 in Klosterneuburg. Ed. by Andrea Bockley, Ursula Kriebaum and August Reinisch. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang, pp Lukas, Karin The Fundamental Rights Charter of the European Union and the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe partners or rivals? In: Making the Charter of Fundamental Rights a living instrument. Ed. by Giuseppe Palmisano. Leiden: Nijhoff, pp Lukas, Karin The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter an alliance for social rights? In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann and Manfred Nowak. Vienna [et al.]: nwv, pp Lukas, Karin The inspection panel of the World Bank. An effective extrajudicial complaint mechanism? In: The World Bank legal review, Vol.6, Ed. by Jan Wouters [et al]. pp

24 Providing Research-based support in the Global Fight against Torture and Ill-treatment Freedom from torture is universally recognised as an absolute and non-derogable right and international human rights treaties and standards contain numerous preventive obligations. Nevertheless, torture remains a problem in the majority of States worldwide, often even on a widespread or systematic scale. States fail to implement their obligations to prosecute these serious human rights violations due to a lack of political will or adequate capacities, or to a lack of efficient preventive measures. International and national oversight mechanisms do not achieve to effectively follow-up their recommendations to provide the necessary support to or exert pressure on the responsible authorities. The Human Dignity and Public Security team at the BIM is specialised in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment and the protection of human rights in the criminal justice system. It carries out extensive research in this area and on that basis provides targeted support to States and civil society in the global fight against torture, the strengthening of oversight mechanisms and the implementation of torture prevention measures. Guiding research questions are: What measures and mechanisms are effective in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment and the protection of detainees rights? How can existing legal and institutional frameworks be strengthened to more effectively prevent torture and protect human rights, especially the rights of detainees? How can monitoring and oversight mechanisms ensure the implementation of national and international human rights obligations? The team was established in 2004 to support Manfred Nowak s mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (UNSRT) from 2004 to 2010, in reporting on the situation of torture and ill-treatment worldwide. Observing the lack of follow-up and implementation of recommendations for the prevention of torture the team has carried out comprehensive research on the effectiveness of torture prevention measures, particularly the establishment and functioning of monitoring, complaints and investigation mechanisms. Based on the research and wide-ranging practical experience, the team has provided targeted advice and strengthened the capacities of State actors, notably National Human Rights Institutions and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM), as well as civil society actors (e.g. in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, FYROM, Moldova, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Romania, Togo, Turkey, Uruguay). In 2015, the team particularly focused on Kyrgyzstan, assisting civil society, the State and particularly the NPM in the fields of prevention, accountability and remedies against torture. Furthermore, the team has conducted comprehensive research on the effectiveness of torture prevention in Kyrgyzstan, contributing to the global comparative analysis of 16 countries by scoring preventive measures taken over 25 years and drafting a narrative report. The results will be published in 2016 as part of the first global study examining whether torture prevention works. Furthermore, the team also took part to the EU-wide project Children s Rights Behind Bars, by Defence for Children International (DCI), with the development of a national study on complaints mechanisms and the guidebook Monitoring places where children are deprived of liberty. 24

25 The team has also increased its focus on rights of detainees on the EU level, particularly procedural rights in the criminal justice context. In this framework, the team contributed the national chapter to an EU wide project by the JUSTICIA procedural rights network analysing the legal and practical implementation of the Right to Information in Criminal Proceedings Directive. In Austria, the team continued to support the Austrian NPM, established in 2012, by coordinating two of its regional visiting Commissions and conducting relevant research, notably on preventive detention of persons with mental illnesses and the excessive use of force by the police. Teaching activities of team members in 2015 included courses on Corruption and Human Rights within the Master of Anti-Corruption Studies at the International Academy for Anti-Corruption (IACA); on Peace-building and Human Rights at the Donau-University Krems and on preventive monitoring at the Vienna Master on Human Rights at the University of Vienna. Research will be continued on the international obligations of States to protect the human dignity of persons deprived of their liberty, especially of vulnerable groups in detention, the root causes of torture and ill-treatment and the effectiveness of measures and mechanisms for its prevention, such as NPMs and other oversight bodies. Moreover, team will continue to expand its focus on the role of the EU in the criminal justice context and to respond to current developments and discussions. In 2016 the team will continue to contribute to a better understanding of how to effectively prevent torture, inter alia by updating the 2008 Commentary to the Convention against Torture, published with Oxford University Press, and analysing the interpretation of each article and the challenges in national implementation. This will provide a unique analysis of the developments in international torture-related jurisprudence and thus a vital contribution to academic discourse on human rights in this sector. Main Projects 2015 Strengthening the Effective Implementation and Follow-up of Recommendations by Torture Monitoring Bodies in the European Union ( ) Most National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) lack effective procedures and methodologies of follow-up and there is insufficient coordination between the different bodies on the national, regional and international levels, resulting in a deficient implementation of recommendations by States. This project, carried out in partnership with the Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol, aims to strengthen the effective implementation and follow-up of recommendations made by torture monitoring bodies by conducting comprehensive research on good practices of follow-up procedures. Furthermore, the project supported and improved coordination between NPMs, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe and the UN Sub-Committee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT) through a series of workshops. In addition to the monitoring bodies themselves, the project explored the potential role of the EU in following up and integrating these recommendations into EU level policies and decision-making. The collected practices and lessons will be gathered in a booklet useful for practitioners and policy-makers. 25

26 Strengthening the Fight against Torture and Impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, Accountability, Remedy and Reparation ( ) This project in the framework of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights was implemented in partnership with the Tian Shan Policy Centre (TSPC) of the American University of Central Asia is a response to the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (UNSRT) to assist the State and civil society with technical expertise in the fight against torture and ill-treatment. The Kyrgyz Republic has in recent years reaffirmed its commitment to bring the justice and law enforcement system up to international standards and to eradicate torture in the country. Torture and ill-treatment remain, however, a widespread problem, as it was also observed by the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture during its official UN visits to the country in 2012, and by local civil society organisations. Against this background, the project provided capacity building support to the newly established National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) as well as technical assistance in the ongoing legal and institutional reforms of the General Prosecutor s Office and aimed at increasing awareness of international standards of remedy and reparation. It also awarded sub-grants to local NGOs and provided support to human rights defenders. Important Events 2015 Strengthening the Follow-up on NPM Recommendations in the EU: Strategic Development, Current Practices and the Way Forward The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM) hosted the final conference of an EU-funded project to strengthen follow-up on recommendations by torture monitoring bodies in the EU. The event took place in Vienna at the Haus der Europäischen Union, and brought together more than 60 representatives from NPMs in the EU, CPT and SPT, EU institutions, civil society and independent experts. At the conference, the Good Practice Study on NPM follow-up in the EU, jointly produced by the BIM and the Human Rights Implementation Centre of the University of Bristol (HRIC) in the framework of the project was presented by Moritz Birk. In addition to being in charge for the overall organisation of the conference, Gerrit Zach gave an overview about the project. 29 April 2015, Vienna Right to Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Torture: National Obligations, International Standards and Best Practices The Roundtable was organised in the framework of the project Strengthening the fight against torture and impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, Accountability, Remedy and Reparation. The topic of the round-table was the right to remedy and reparation for victims of torture and ill-treatment. Several experts made presentations on inter alia the international legal framework on remedy and reparation, UN recommendations to Kyrgyzstan, individual complaints mechanisms, documentation of torture allegations according to the Istanbul Protocol. Tiphanie Crittin presented the international legal framework on remedy and reparation. 29 May 2015, Bishkek, Republic of Kyrgyzstan The Situation and the Challenges with Undocumented Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Macedonia The event was organised by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Moritz Birk and Tiphanie Crittin from BIM, who discussed the situation of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in the light of the fight against torture and ill-treatment, commemorating 26 June, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 26 June 2015, Skopje, Macedonia 26

27 Workshop on Establishment and Implementation of an Effective Human Rights Monitoring System Presentation by Moritz Birk on monitoring migration detention and the establishment of a human rights monitoring unit within the Georgian Migration Department as part of the project Enhancing Georgia s Migration Management (ENIGMMA) by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 21 September 2015, Tbilisi, Georgia Mutual Trust versus Human Rights? The EU s Approach in the Area of Freedom, Justice and Security Paper presentation by Gerrit Zach in the framework of the PhD panel during the annual AHRI Human Rights Research Conference. 22 September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Selected Publications 2015 Birk, Moritz / Kiselica, Ernan Detention. Legal framework for the care of those in detention and the prohibition/prevention of torture, cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment. In: Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Ed. by Jason Payne-James and Roger W. Byard. 2nd edition. Vol. 2. Elsevier, 2016 pp Birk, Moritz / Zach, Gerrit Torture Prevention in the EU Many Actors, Few Outcomes? In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann and Manfred Nowak. Vienna [et al.]: nwv, pp Birk, Moritz / Zach, Gerrit [et al.] Enhancing impact of National Preventive Mechanisms. Strengthening the follow-up on NPM recommendations in the EU Strategic development, current practices and the way forward. Vienna [et al]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Birk, Moritz Turning recommendations into reality. Improving the impact of detention monitoring bodies. In: PRI at the Crime Congress,

28 The focus of the team s work is on Education for Democratic Citizenship (EDC) and Human Rights Education (HRE) in schools. The unit has been running the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools (Zentrum polis Politik Lernen in der Schule, since 2006 a project on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs (current contract extended until 2017). polis is the central pedagogical service institution for citizenship education in Austrian schools. Its main tasks are of very practical nature and very much focusing on the implementation of EDC/HRE in Austrian schools. polis serves as an information platform and advisory centre, develops new teaching materials, plays a part in the European and Austrian discussions on citizenship education, has an influential role in teacher training and organizes events for students. polis is the Austrian Centre of Excellence in EDC/HRE with the most comprehensive overview of national processes and projects both, in the public field and the NGO sector. The centre plays an active part in recent developments in HRE/EDC in Austria: Member of the Austrian advisory committee on EDC/HRE which in 2015 was responsible for: o developing a new curriculum introducing compulsory modules for citizenship education in all schools from grade 6 on o relaunching the cross-curricular educational principle on EDC Strengthening school democracy within the Austrian quality assurance programme for school development (SQA) Combatting radicalisation through EDC/HRE Highlighting the European Charter on EDC/HRE in Austria Supporting the Council of Europe s EDC Programme through dissemination activities in Austria and highlighting the Council of Europe s No-hate-Speech Campaign Moreover, in the last years polis due to its practical on-ground experience became a sought-after partner in research projects with a strong implementation component. polis, in 2015, had a strong focus on women s human rights. In the course of the elaboration of the national action plan on violence against women, polis developed and implemented measures for the educational sector. As a first step, schools were provided with a package of materials focusing on different aspects of gender-related violence. These comprehensive pedagogical materials were accompanied by a series of multipliers trainings and web dossiers. polis reacted to current challenges and provided teachers with information about sensitive issues, e.g. with a web dossier on extremism and (de)radicalisation. The Centre was charged with the coordination of an important series of workshops on deradicalisation and prevention by the Federal Ministry of Education: Between March and October 2015, more than 40 educational organisations provided nearly 550 free-of-charge-workshops for school classes all over Austria. The fast reactions of schools to this offer, showed the increasing demand of such measures. 28

29 2015 saw intensified work on European Citizenship Education: As part of a joint initiative by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education and Women, the Austrian Representation of the European Commission as well as the Information Bureau of the European Parliament, polis was entrusted with the preparation of a handbook, which aims at assisting school principals and teachers in strengthening European Citizenship education at their school. The booklet has been tested by a group of teachers and school principals and will be published in Many other activities of or closely related to the BIM in the field of human rights education and training are implemented with contributions by different teams, e.g. the European Master s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA), the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights, the Fundamental Rights Trainings for Austrian Judgeship Trainees or the Straniak Academy for Human Rights and Democracy which took place in Montenegro in September 2015 for the third time. Main Projects 2015 Children s Rights and Participation Developing Indicators for Schools ( ) The project funded by the Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) was a cooperation of the Human Rights Education team and the Child Rights expert of the BIM. At a Viennese secondary school the researchers, the school s headmaster and teachers as well as students and parents representatives tried to find out by means of participatory research which minimum criteria a child-rights-friendly school has to fulfil. Which indicators do already exist? Which aspects are already realized and which changes are necessary in order to fulfil the criteria of a child-rights-friendly school according to the different stakeholders? The project started with child rights workshops for the students. Focus groups, interviews, questionnaire surveys and a study on indicators were carried out. Based on the results of these activities and the analysis of already existing monitoring instruments a Children s Rights Index was developed. This set of indicators can be used as a selfevaluating instrument for an analysis of how far a school already fulfils child rights standards. ENGAGE Building together European Learning Material on Education for Citizenship ( ) The Erasmus+-project aims at developing teaching material on the topic of citizenship education for the target group of eight- to twelve-year-old pupils. Partner organisations of ENGAGE evaluate the status quo of citizenship education and assess the needs of pupils and teachers respectively on a national level (analysis with both theoretical and empirical part). Subsequently, on this basis the material will be developed and tested in the countries of the partner organisations. Results of this testing period and of the exchange of good practices between participating European partners will be integrated and will serve as a guideline for finalizing and publishing the teaching material. National expert groups teachers, head of schools, scientists, representatives of pedagogical colleges and ministries (e.g. Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs/Department Citizenship Education) provide valuable input based on different fields of experience. 29

30 Important Events 2015 Austrian Citizenship Days 2015 Since 2006, polis is responsible for the overall coordination and organisation of the annual Citizenship Days, which took place from 23 April to 9 May 2015 throughout Austria. polis also contributed with own activities. In 2015, the initiative, which is supported by more than 50 educational institutions, focused on Power and Empowerment. 23 April to 9 May How Teachers can Prevent Online Hate Speech Hate Speech violates human rights and is widely used on the internet and in social media. This workshop for teachers and multipliers organized by polis in cooperation with the Austrian Parliament allowed for the participants to come to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of hate speech and how to address it. polis provided the participants with a theoretical input and presented on-hand methods for the classroom. The workshops was organized in the framework of the Council of Europe s No Hate Speech Campaign. 30 April 2015, Vienna First Vienna Protest Path 13A Buses for All Martin Auer, the author of the Vienna Protest Path, and Martin Ladstätter (BIZEPS Center for autonomous life) presented a new station of the First Vienna Protest Path dealing with accessibility for persons with disability in the public transport system. 6 May 2015, Vienna Child Rights Party The closing event of the Child Rights Index -project, funded by the Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), was a child rights party at the participating school. The students presented the results of their research. 23 June 2015, Vienna 3rd Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights The intense two-week programme included courses and workshops on different thematic fields such as concepts of democracy in a globalised world, the international and regional human rights instruments and standards (UN, CoE, OSCE, EU), the relevance of the rule of law, the efficiency of judicial systems, and also includes special human rights related topics. In 2015, BIM was represented by Hannes Tretter, Nina Radovic, Karin Lukas, Julia Planitzer and Katrin Wladasch. 6 to 19 September 2015 in Ulcinj/Montenegro Extrem Radikal Präventive Strategien im Umgang mit der Radikalisierung von Jugendlichen Zentrum polis in 2015 was co-organizer of the annual WUK Bildungs- und Beratungstag. Patricia Hladschik gave an input on preventive strategies in the school system and facilitated a panel discussion. 20 October 2015, WUK, Vienna, Austria 30

31 Selected Publications 2015 polis aktuell the journal for teachers released 5 issues in 2015 (in German language). No. 1/2015: Haupt, Maria: Language and Politics No. 2/2015: Turek, Elisabeth: Pop and Politics No. 3/2015: Campbell, David: Quality of Democracy (Ed. by Maria Haupt) No. 4/2015: Hladschik, Patricia; Turek, Elisabeth; Steurer, Dorothea: Citizenship Education in the new curriculum No. 5/2015: Ammer, Margit; Hladschik, Patricia; Kittenberger, Norbert; Mayrhofer, Monika; Steininger, Sigrid: Migration and Asylum Bildungsfragen Europa und ökonomisches Lernen. Ed. by Gertraud Diendorfer, Patricia Hladschik and Alexandra Lechner-Amante. Schwalbach/Ts.: Wochenschauverlag, pp. Schuh, Maria / Lein, Therese / Leitner, Gabriela / Neuburg, Renate Mehr haben oder mehr vom Leben haben? Vienna: Edition polis, 3rd edition, pp. Haupt, Maria / Turek, Elisabeth Citizenship Education in Austria: History Implementation Major Reforms: Analysis within the framework of the project Engage Building together European learning material on Education for Citizenship. Vienna, 2015 Ausserer, Ingrid / Ausserer, Karin / Sax, Helmut / Steurer, Dorothea / Turek, Elisabeth Children s Rights Index in school and guidelines for a participative child rights monitoring in school. Vienna,

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33 Staff TEAM OF DIRECTORS Patricia HLADSCHIK Manfred NOWAK Fiona STEINERT Hannes TRETTER Managing Director LBI Director Managing Director LBI Director PERMANENT STAFF ANTIDISCRIMINATION, ASYLUM, MIGRATION Barbara LIEGL Head of Team (until August 2015) Resident Twinning Advisor in Serbia (since September 2015) Project: Support to the advancement of human rights and zero tolerance to discrimination (Twinning) Katrin WLADASCH Head of Team (since September 2015) Jane HOFBAUER Margit AMMER Monika MAYRHOFER Dieter SCHINDLAUER Anti-discrimination, diversity Anti-discrimination, migration Anti-discrimination, asylum (until July 2015 on maternal leave) Anti-discrimination, migration Resident Twinning Advisor in Kosovo Project against Homophobia and Transphobia EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD AND INTEGRATION POLICY Susanne FRACZEK Heidrun AIGNER Claudia HÜTTNER Jana FRÜHAUF Anna MÜLLER-FUNK Head of Team Project management (since September 2015 on sabbatical) Project management Project management Fundamental Rights Agency Agnes TAIBL Project management (since June 2015) Christian WAWRINEC Project management (since January 2015) WOMEN S RIGHTS, CHILDREN S RIGHTS, TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS Helmut SAX Sabine MANDL Julia PLANITZER Head of Team Children s rights, Trafficking in Human Beings, Development cooperation Women s rights Women s rights, Trafficking in Human Beings 33

34 HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND BUSINESS Karin LUKAS Katharina HÄUSLER Head of Team Development cooperation, Business and Human Rights Business and Human Rights, EU external policies, Development cooperation Barbara LINDER Claudia SPRENGER Business and Human Rights, CSR Development cooperation, Rights of people with disabilities HUMAN DIGNITY AND PUBLIC SECURITY Moritz BIRK Tiphanie CRITTIN Head of Team Torture prevention Torture prevention Stephanie KRISPER Torture prevention (since July 2015) Coordination of Commission 5 of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (until June 2015) Caroline PAAR Andrea SCHÜCHNER Gerrit ZACH Coordination of Commission 4 of the Austrian Ombudsman Board Torture prevention Torture prevention HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION Patricia HLADSCHIK Ingrid AUSSERER Maria HAUPT Dorothea STEURER Elisabeth TUREK Marijana GRANDITS Head of Team polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools European Master on Human Rights and Democratisation ADMINISTRATION, ASSISTANCE, UNIVERSITY LECTURES Margit BRAUN Grazyna CZEMRYSZEWSKA Secretariat Cleaning Katharina ERHART Apprentice (until February 2015) Secretariat (until August 2015) Julia HOLZMAYER Secretariat, apprentice (since September 2015) Rainer JANTSCHER Petra MACHACEK IT-Support Library Simon MACHLEIDT Sir Peter Ustinov Institute (since May 2015) Corinna METZ Martin NEUBAUER Isolde PROMMER Sir Peter Ustinov Institute Administration, accounting Project development 34

35 Nina RADOVIC Student assistant, Project management Straniak Academy for Human Rights and Democracy, Civil Society in Bosnia Herzegovina Bilal ROZAK Secretariat, apprentice (February 2015 to June 2015) Karl SCHÖNSWETTER Accounting Barbara WEICHSELBAUM University Assistant to Prof. Tretter RESEARCH CENTRE HUMAN RIGHTS (University of Vienna) Sandra BENECCHI Events co-ordination (since September 2015) Julia KOZMA Torture prevention (until August 2015 on maternal leave) Anna MÜLLER-FUNK Research co-ordination Melanie PFEFFER Events co-ordination (January 2015 to August 2015) Isolde PROMMER Funding co-ordination In 2015 the institute has seen the following changes in personnel: The year started off very positively with Katharina Erhart passing her final apprentice exam with distinction and receiving a special mention for her extraordinary learning results. She continued working for the BIM in several projects until August Meanwhile she is working for the Section for International Law and International Relations at the University of Vienna. Julia Holzmayer joined the BIM secretariat as new apprentice in September Barbara Liegl, head of the team Antidiscrimination, Asylum and Diversity, started her work as Regional Twinning Adviser for the BIM s new EU Twinning project Support to the advancement of human rights and zero tolerance to discrimination in Serbia in September Katrin Wladasch took over her responsibilities as team leader. Agnes Taibl and Christian Wawrinec joined the European Neighbourhood and Integration Policy (EUNIP) team. Agnes Taibl took over from Heidrun Aigner, who left the BIM for a sabbatical in September 2015 in order to finish her master thesis. Christian Wawrinec, inter alia, took over the management of the BIM s second EU Twinning project in Morocco. As part of the BIM s co-operation with the Sir Peter Ustinov Institute Simon Machleidt works as assistant to the Secretary General Corinna Metz since May The Research Centre Human Rights consolidated its work: Since January 2015, Anna Müller-Funk is in charge of the research coordination. Melanie Pfeffer took over the event coordination from January until August 2015, since September 2015 Sandra Benecchi is responsible for this task. We welcome our new team members and wish those who left us in the course of 2015 all the best with regard to their personal and career development. We would like to thank all of them for their commitment and dedicated work. 35

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37 Finances BIM projects and other activities are implemented via two legal entities: the Ludwig Boltzmann Association and the BIM Research Association. Furthermore, the BIM closely collaborates with the Research Centre Human Rights established at the University of Vienna in In 2015, the budget of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute was 2.28 million. The Research Association operated with a budget of 1.0 million. Funding of the LBI and the Research Association comes from a broad range of sources and is mainly project-based. The following charts show how funding is divided according to donors and cooperation partners. Funding LBI Human Rights International Organisations 3% Foundations 5% Basic funding LBG Private 7% Foundations 4% Public funds 6% Universities 2% FWF 4% European Commission 69% Funding BIM Research Association Universities 8% Foundations 17% Membership fees / donations 1% Private business / organisations 6% Public funds 68% 37

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39 Events Supporting Bosnian grass-root initiatives January 2015, Sarajevo / 27 April 2015, Gracanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina After the conference Civil Society as a Factor for Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was jointly organised by the BIM and international partners in 2014, two follow-up meetings with informal civic groups and grass-root movements took place in The aim of the follow-up meetings, with Manfred Nowak and Hannes Tretter taking part for the BIM, was to develop a strategy with the main project partner (ERSTE Foundation) and selected civic groups in order to support the groups in their efforts to act as bottom-up change agents in their local communities. Training on fundamental rights for judgeship trainees 26 January to 28 January 2015, Reichenau/Rax Julia Planitzer, Christof Tschohl and Hagen Nordmeyer implemented a three-day training on fundamental rights for judgeship trainees. Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence 28 January 2015, Vienna The conference, opened by the Federal Minister for Education and Women s Affairs, marked the end of the project Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence. As part of a comparative study carried out in four countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, Iceland and Austria), the BIM investigated how women with disabilities experience violence and what support they receive in such situations. Women with disabilities who had experienced violence and staff of victim support service organisations developed recommendations for victim support service organisations as well as policymakers. National policy seminar integration measures in Austria 24 February 2015, Vienna The second national policy seminar in the course of the ASSESS project (integration of vulnerable migrant groups) was concerned with the final report on integration measures in Austria. Selected international examples of promising practices in the area of integration and monitoring were presented. Further panels discussed political participation of migrants in Austria as well as studies on integration. Populism a challenge for Citizenship Education 26 and 27 February 2015, Villach Populism as political position that can be found in most democratic societies, is a major challenge for Citizenship Education. How to improve analytical skills of students in order to enable them to demask populist positions, was the main topic of the annual meeting of the Austrian Professional Association for Citizenship Educators (IGPB), organised in cooperation with polis. Poverty migration and child rights in Vienna 26 March 2015, Vienna The round table took place within the on-going EU funded project CONFRONT Countering new forms of Roma children trafficking: Participatory approach that is carried out in Austria by the BIM in collaboration with ECPAT Austria. During this event child protection and poverty migration from a children s rights perspective were discussed. More than 30 representatives of state and non-governmental organisations from five federal provinces of Austria as well as experts from Bulgaria gathered at this networking event in Vienna. 39

40 Austrian Citizenship Days April to 9 May 2015, throughout Austria The focus of the Austrian Citizenship Days 2015 was Power and Empowerment as key concepts of Citizenship Education. More than 150 events, projects and activities were carried out. Some of them were especially developed for teachers and school-students, many were aiming at a broader public. Sustainable prevention of violence in school and youth work 27 April 2015, Bregenz, Austria Hands-on workshop for teachers and multipliers held by Patricia Hladschik together with an expert from Amazone Bregenz. After a brief theoretical introduction the workshop focused on practical excercises and methods and left room for self-reflection and active exchange. The participants received a package of relevant materials developed by polis. Strengthening the follow-up on NPM recommendations in the EU: strategic development, current practices and the way forward 29 April 2015, Haus der Europäischen Union, Vienna The BIM hosted the final conference of an EU-funded project to strengthen follow-up on recommendations by torture monitoring bodies in the EU. The event brought together more than 60 representatives from NPMs in the EU, CPT and SPT, EU institutions, civil society and independent experts. At the conference, the Good Practice Study on NPM follow-up in the EU, jointly produced by the BIM and the Human Rights Implementation Centre of the University of Bristol (HRIC) in the framework of the project, was presented by Moritz Birk. In addition to being in charge for the overall organisation of the conference, Gerrit Zach gave an overview about the project. Working with boys in schools 30 April 2015, Vienna To work on gender and stereotypes is one way of preventing violence in schools. The workshop gave an overview to methods for gender-sensitive interaction with boys in schools. The participants received a package of relevant materials developed by polis. How teachers can prevent hate speech via internet 30 April 2015, Vienna Hate speech violates human rights and is widely used on the internet and in social media. This workshop for teachers and multipliers organized by polis in cooperation with the Austrian Parliament allowed for the participants to come to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of hate speech and how to address it. polis provided the participants with a theoretical input and presented on-hand methods for the classroom. Kick-off event of the Twinning project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities in Macedonia 19 May 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The event was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, and attended by representatives of media, civil society, the EU Delegation as well as the Austrian Embassy in Skopje. The project leaders Ombudsman Memeti (Macedonia) and Ombudswoman Brinek (Austria) presented an outline of activities for the 8-months project, which include awareness raising and capacity building of staff in the regional offices and of the Macedonian NPM, round tables, policy recommendations, and field visits with the NPM. Digital security for human rights defenders 28 May 2015, Bishkek, Republic of Kyrgyzstan The training was organised in the framework of the project Strengthening the fight against torture and impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, accountability, remedy and reparation. In a context of increasing attacks and raids against human rights defenders assisting victims of torture and ill-treatment, during which client data and other sensitive information get confiscated or destroyed, there is a clear need to strengthen digital and physical protection of data. The training therefore provided participants with tools and ways to protect s and the storage of data digitally. 40

41 Right to Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Torture: National Obligations, International Standards and Best Practices 29 May 2015, Bishkek, Republic of Kyrgyzstan The round table was organised in the framework of the project Strengthening the fight against torture and impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, accountability, remedy and reparation. The topic of the round table was the right to remedy and reparation for victims of torture and ill-treatment. Several experts made presentations on inter alia the international legal framework on remedy and reparation, UN recommendations to Kyrgyzstan, individual complaints mechanisms, documentation of torture allegations according to the Istanbul Protocol. Tiphanie Crittin (BIM) presented the international legal framework on remedy and reparation. Women s rights and gender equality: share experiences > new ways of thinking > shaping the future 10 June 2015, Vienna Sabine Mandl (BIM) was responsible for the facilitation of a working group on violence against women and the documentation of the morning sessions, which focused on the international perspective of the realisation of women s rights, 20 years after the approval of the Beijing Platform for Action. The conference was jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Women s Affairs, several civil society organisations and the BIM. Beyond the taboo stories of ordinary love role of media in shaping public opinion on LGBT issues 12 June 2015, Pristina, Kosovo The Twinning project Fight against Homophobia and Transphobia organised a world café as part of a training for journalists and media representatives with a main focus on exchanging knowledge and experience, to increase general awareness amongst stakeholders and to better understand the LGBT community in Kosovo. The event was attended by all relevant parts of Kosovo society: media, non-governmental organisations, LGBT community, embassies, international organisations (EU and US) as well as by anti-discrimination expert and RTA in Kosovo Dieter Schindlauer and communication and media expert Anna Müller-Funk of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights. Pilot mediation child protection and Roma communities 12 June 2015, Vienna As part of the CONFRONT project, a concept for pilot mediation in situations of conflicts between members of Roma communities and child protection authorities and/or police (e.g. context of begging with children, children in conflict with the law) has been developed following a first exchange among stakeholders, including Roma organisations, social workers and child protection authorities, in January 2015, an in-depth workshop for joint elaboration of such a concept with eight partners was organised in June Monitoring methodology for the Macedonian Ombudsoffice 14 to 19 June 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The Office of the Ombudswoman and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights organised a joint training in the framework of the Twinning project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. The training, given by Dominik Hofmann, Daniela Grabovac (Austrian NPM Commission) and Tiphanie Crittin (BIM), focused on the international legal framework on the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, interviewing techniques of detainees, ethical considerations during monitoring visits, the theory of trauma, how to address the specific vulnerability of children, women and elderly people, report and recommendations and practices of the Austrian NPM. The situation and the challenges with undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in Macedonia 26 June 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The event was organised by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the BIM, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Moritz Birk and Tiphanie Crittin from BIM, who discussed the situation of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in the light of the fight against torture and ill-treatment. 41

42 International treaty law and practice 30 June to 7 July 2015, Thimphu, Bhutan Training with Bhutan core team members for Treaty Guideline Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Royal Government of Bhutan and UNDP. On-the-job training and advice to the Regional Ombudsman Offices 6 to 10 July 2015, Shtip / 4 to 8 October 2015, Tetovo, Macedonia In the framework of the EU Twinning Light Project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancements of its capacities in Macedonia, trainings for the regional offices of the Ombudsman were carried out. They aimed at supporting the regional offices in carrying out their tasks according to their mandate and at strengthening their capacities in reaching out to the public. Study Visit of the Macedonian National Preventive Mechanism for the protection of human rights 13 to 16 July 2015, Vienna As part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities, a four-day study visit of Macedonian representatives to Austria was organized in order to share experiences and best practices on the monitoring of detention places for migrants and asylum seekers and on the prevention of torture in places of deprivation of liberty. Participants were introduced to the legal framework of fundamental rights of foreigners and the asylum system in Austria. Two days were dedicated to the visit of a police detention centre and the Federal Support Facility in Thalham during regular visits of the commissions of the Austrian NPM. The last day focused on the debriefing of the previous visits, insights learned for the work in Macedonia and was completed by contributions on the basic support system and on forced returns of irregular migrants in Austria. Child-specific aspects of the monitoring methodology 3 September 2015, Brussels, Belgium Workshop held by Helmut Sax, as part of the project Children s Rights behind Bars organised by Defence for Children International, for discussion of a monitoring methodology for places of deprivation of liberty of children. Children s rights and participation developing indicators for schools 15 September 2015, Vienna Round table discussion, jointly organised by polis The Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools and BIM. Helmut Sax, Dorothea Steurer, and Elisabeth Turek presented the child rights index for schools that was developed during the project Children s rights and participation. Digital Security for human rights defenders, part II 22 to 23 September 2015, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan The training was organized by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, the Tian Shan Policy Center of the American University of Central Asia and Bir Duino Human Rights Movement, and was conducted by Mr. Maksat Sabyrov, expert on digital security. Staff of the National Center for the Prevention of Torture as well as staff from anti-torture NGOs from various parts of Kyrgyzstan received an advanced training on the protection of client data, online security and the safe usage of the internet. Strengthening the fight against torture and impunity in Kyrgyzstan 24 September 2015, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Project closing reception where the project team presented the activities and results achieved in the anti-torture project. The interim Director of the National Center for the Prevention of Torture discussed the contributions the project made to the capacity building of the NPM. A local NGO and sub grantee to the project presented the outcomes of their anti-torture micro-project. The project team also presented the handbook on Tools and Legal Standards for Monitoring Torture and Ill-treatment in Places of Detention, a joint publication of BIM and TSPC, and containing ethical standards for detention monitoring, follow-up strategies to enhance the implementation of NPM recommendations, as well as international legal standards relevant to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment. 42

43 Applied monitoring training for the National Center for the Prevention of Torture 25 September, 2015, Chui Oblast, Kyrgyzstan BIM project staff and the National Center for the Prevention of Torture (NPM) carried out a joint visit to two places of deprivation of liberty with a specific focus on monitoring the rights of women and girls in detention as spelled in the UN Bangkok Rules and other international law instruments. The boarding school for juveniles in conflict with the law at Belavodska, and the Jayil Asylum for women with mental impairments were visited. The situation and challenges with street children in Macedonia: How to ensure access to their rights 30 September 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The event was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Helmut Sax from BIM, who discussed his experiences in the research on child trafficking from a European perspective, how national practical responses can look like and how this topic is related to street children, as well as Werner Prinzjakowitsch from the Viennese Youth Centres, who provided practical experiences on youth work with street children, youth welfare, foster care and networking with public authorities in Austria. Trainings on human rights for representatives of the police in Moldova 30 September to 9 October 2015, Moldova In the course of the project ILECUs: Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in South East Europe by further Promoting International Law Enforcement Coordination Units which Combat Transnational Organized Crime, funded by the Austrian Development Agency, the BIM organised three 2-days trainings for police officers in different regions of Moldova on various human rights matters such as violence against women, acting and communication during a demonstration, smuggling and trafficking in human beings and data protection. Sabine Mandl and Julia Planitzer delivered the trainings together with Karl Raschbach (Special Unit Cobra/Counter-terrorism unit), Johannes Steiner (Criminal Intelligence Service Austria) and Christof Tschohl (Research Institute). IBA Annual Conference 4 to 9 October 2015, Vienna The International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference brought together thousands of international legal professionals from all over the world. It offered nearly 200 working sessions on different legal issues and trends. The BIM contributed to two sessions: the first one was a presentation on corporate grievance mechanisms within the framework of a business breakfast; the second one a presentation on the rights of migrant workers which was part of a panel on The empowerment of diaspora workers. The aim of the BIM participation was to disseminate the research results gained through the latest projects and to support the human rights focus of these sessions. New compulsory modules on Citizenship Educationn 14 October 2015, Vienna Dorothea Steurer and Elisabeth Turek (polis) gave an input on the new curriculum on History and Citizenship Education for grades 6 to 8 to teachers and multipliers, and presented activating and participative methods for Citizenship Education. Support to the advancement of human rights and zero tolerance to discrimination in Serbia 19 October 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Kick-off event of the Twinning project, organized by the Office for Human and Minority Rights, the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights. The event aimed at presenting the activities of the project and at reaching out to the relevant stakeholders working in the area of human rights and anti-discrimination. The event was attended by about 80 representatives of ministries, independent bodies, local self-governments, international organizations and CSOs. Hannes Tretter and Barbara Liegl (BIM) gave inputs on EU standards and Serbia s opportunities within the Twinning project for further developing its laws and policies promoting human rights and equality. 43

44 Final event and certification of the train-the-trainer programme in Kosovo 23 October 2015, Pristina, Kosovo Resident Twinning Adviser Dieter Schindlauer and his team organised the final event and certification of the train-the-trainer programme for future Equality Trainers with a special focus on LGBTIissues in the framework of the Twinning project Fight against homophobia and transphobia. 15 newly trained trainers, coming from Kosovar institutions of education, police, judiciary and administration, received their certificates. Rainer Hiltunen from the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities opened the ceremony with his key note speech On the Road to Equality. How to monitor places of detention 27 October 2015, Vienna Practical training and exchange with the members of the German National Agency for the Prevention of Torture on how to monitor places of detention and conduct interviews with detainees including a monitoring role play. Roma inclusion in primary education in Macedonia: situation and challenges 28 October 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The event was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Andrea Schüchner from BIM, who provided a comparative perspective by presenting experiences from earlier Twinning and other research projects and gave an overview on the situation in Austria, as well as Nataša Žagar from the Slovenian Government Office for National Minorities. TAIEX study visit on protection of the rights of LGBTI People 3 to 5 November 2015, Vienna Within the framework of the European Commission s TAIEX Instrument, a three-day study visit was organized for a Delegation from the Montenegrin Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. After an introductory session at the BIM, where current acitvities in regard to anti-discrimination with a special focus on LGBTI rights were discussed, the Delegation visited the Litigation Association of NGOs Against Discrimination. The second and third day focused on LGBTI counselling and service points, visiting the Vienna Anti-Discrimination Agency for same-sex and trangender lifestyles of the City of Vienna (WASt), the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Homosexual Initiative Vienna (HOSI) 1st Lesbian and Gays Association, the Austrian Ombud for Equal Treatment, the Counselling Center Courage and the Association for transgender persons, TransX. European Citizenship Education in Schools 16 November 2015, Vienna Maria Haupt presented the wide range of activities and services focusing on European issues, which teachers are offered by polis the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools. Education for de-radicalisation 27 November 2015, Vienna Closing event for a joint initiative of 40 pedagogical service providers which offered a series of 550 school workshops on different aspects of citizenship education and social learning throughout Austria. The initiative was organised by polis the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Education. Patricia Hladschik presented the evaluation of the initiative. Ingrid Ausserer and Elisabeth Turek moderated a reflective session for the participants. Children with autism in regular elementary education 2 December 2015, Skopje, Macedonia The event was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the BIM, as part of the Twinning Light project Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities. Speakers included Ernst Berger and Katharina Mares-Schrank who gave presentations on the topics of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Austrian school system. 44

45 Non-judicial complaints: A Balance between business and human rights interests? 16 December 2015, Vienna This event presented preliminary findings of a BIM research project on non-judicial complaint mechanisms. Karin Lukas and Barbara Linder (BIM) gave an overview over the mechanisms analysed (World Bank Group, OECD National Contact Points, multi-stakeholder initiatives and companybased mechanisms) and gave insights into the potential and limitations of these mechanisms. Trends point to an increase of non-judicial grievance mechanisms and the growing importance to address the linkages between judicial and non-judicial remedies. The presentation was held in conjunction with the event Access to remedies in the EU for victims of corporate related human rights abuse. January 2015 From international human rights regime to human rights-based approach in development cooperation Presented by Manfred Nowak at the workshop: The practical implementation of human rights-based approach at political-strategic level in the Austrian Development Cooperation, Austrian Development Agency (ADA). 14 January 2015, Vienna denkbar@terrorismus: The new kind of war? Discussion of risks and backrounds of terrorist networks Manfred Nowak participated at a discussion at the Volkstheater in Vienna. 14 January 2015, Vienna Second Annual Consortium Meeting of the project Families and Societies Helmut Sax was invited as national stakeholder to the conference in the framework of the EU funded (FP 7) project Families and Societies, coordinated by the University of Stockholm January 2015, Madrid, Spain Torture and Clinical Forensic Medicine Experiences drawn from the work of an UN Special Rapporteur Presented by Manfred Nowak at IALM 2015 Dubai-Congress2, International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM)/Department of Forensic Medicine. 19 January 2015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Closing round table: Implications for FRAME project Panel input by Katharina Häusler at the concluding panel of the workshop FRAME-ing inclusive approaches to EU human rights, democracy and rule of law, organised by Utrecht University. 22 January 2015, Utrecht, The Netherlands Alpbach Talks Education Turning: From You shall to I can Manfred Nowak participated at the Alpbach Talks at the European Forum Alpbach. 26 January 2015, Vienna February 2015 The situation of the Ukraine and whether law can provide validity by economic sanctions Keynote speech by Manfred Nowak at the 43rd European Presidents Conference Might makes Right. 13 February 2015, Vienna 45

46 Role of civil society in the promotion of human rights in business Katharina Häusler acted as chair of the panel at the Training Session I of the project Business and Human Rights challenges for cross border litigation in the European Union, organised by Globernance Instituto de Gobernanza Democrática. 20 February 2015, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain Advising government and Council of Europe for penal and police procedures in Georgia Manfred Nowak at the Advising Government and Europe Euro for penal and police procedures in Georgia, Council of Europe Office in Georgia / EU / CoE Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions February 2015, Tibilis, Georgia Meeting of the Viennese Social Democrat Party Hannes Tretter participated at the panel discussion concerning the topic Wien. Stadt der Menschenrechte. 27 February 2015, Rust March 2015 Entrechtung und Verrechtlichung Commentary by Karin Lukas at the Lecture Series Vienna Lectures. 3 March 2015, Vienna Protection from terror Human rights inclusive Manfred Nowak participated at the Panel discussion, Vienna Diplomatic Academy. 11 March 2015, Vienna Approaches towards East Asia Dealing with East Asia Panel participant at the East Asia Day 2015 at the Institute for East Asian Studies (IOAW). 12 March 2015, Vienna Recognition and prevention of genocide: History and present in Kurdistan-Irak Hannes Tretter participated at this event organised by the local Kurdish-Irak government which took place in the Austrian Diplomatic Academy. 17 March 2015, Vienna Modern Slavery and Trafficking in Human Beings Panel discussion statement by Julia Planitzer concerning labour exploitation for the VHS Vienna in context of the VHS human rights series in cooperation with the City of Vienna and the Postgraduate Centre of the University of Vienna. 19 March 2015, Vienna How and why international organizations develop mechanisms for the protection of human rights Monika Mayrhofer participated in a panel discussion of the lecture How and why international organizations develop mechanisms for the protection of human rights held by Michael Zürn and organised by the Institute and Platform for European Integration Research. University of Vienna. 23 March 2015, Vienna Modern slavery and trafficking in human beings Presentation of current projects and publications of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights at the main library of VHS Vienna in context of the VHS human rights series in cooperation with the City of Vienna and the Postgraduate Centre of the University of Vienna. 25 March 2015, Vienna Tackling torture: mapping the contemporary context of torture. How have strategies evolved and what are the challenges and opportunities? Presented by Manfred Nowak at the workshop Strategies for tackling torture and improving prevention, The Human Rights Implementation Centre, Law School, University of Bristol. 30 March 1 April 2015, Wilton Park, United Kingdom 46

47 April 2015 International Collaboration to Reduce Labour Exploitation Helmut Sax participated in the conference organised by ICMPD and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in UK, which brought together stakeholders on efforts countering trafficking in human beings and labour exploitation April 2015, Vienna ClimAccount Human Rights Accountability of the European Union and Austria for Climate Policies in Third Countries and Their Possible Effects on Migration Poster presentation by Jane Hofbauer at Österreichische Klimatage April 2015, Vienna Vienna Smart City Hannes Tretter participated at a panel discussion of the discussion series Human Rights at LBP. 29 April 2015, Vienna May 2015 The Human Rights Council at 10: Improving relevance, strengthening impact Manfred Nowak participated at the Glion Human Rights Dialogue 2015 of the Swiss confederation / Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4 6 May 2015, Glion/Switzerland Opportunities and Pitfalls of Collecting (In)equality Data Keynote speech held by Monika Mayrhofer at the conference Collecting (in)equality data. 5 May 2015, Zagreb, Coratia Severe forms of labour exploitation in the European Union Helmut Sax participated and contributed to the workshop organised by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in preparation of the launch of the study Severe forms of labour exploitation in the European Union. 5 6 May 2015, Vienna First Vienna Protest Path 13A buses for all Martin Auer, the author of the Protest Path and Martin Ladstätter (BIZEPS Center for autonomous life) presented a new station of the First Vienna Protest Path dealing with accessibility for persons with disability in public transport systems. 6 May 2015, Vienna Protecting the Vulnerable: Human Rights and Forced Displacement in a World of Flux Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the 45th annual IPI Vienna Seminar: The United Nations at 70, organised by the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports. 7 May 2015, Vienna Using the Law to Enforce Human Rights How Effective is this practice Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at ECCHR Berlin. 7 May 2015 Berlin, Germany Current Affairs in World Politics Monika Mayrhofer taught a course on Current Affairs in World Politics at the Master Program of Political Science at the Institute of International Studies, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok May 2015, Bangkok, Thailand What can the human rights tradition learn concretely from their own history for the present and future, to achieve practical effective changes towards a Culture of Human Rights Manfred Nowak was panelist at the 10th international Human Rights Forum Lucerne (IHRF) organised by Human Rights and History, Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern und Menschenrechtsforum 47

48 Luzern (IHRF) and facilitated the workshop Law Fight against torture as a constant threat to human dignitiy. 8 9 May 2015, Luzern, Switzerland Child Trafficking A Challenge across Borders Presentation held by Helmut Sax on the occassion of the conference of the Austrian Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings. 18 May 2015, Klagenfurt Roma Child Trafficking in Europe Invisible or Criminalised Victims? Keynote delivered by Helmut Sax at a policy briefing on child trafficking among vulnerable Roma communities, in the framework of the EU funded project CONFRONT Countering new forms of Roma children trafficking: Participatory approach. 29 May 2015, Brussels, Belgium Equality and the European Social Charter Lecture by Karin Lukas at the workshop Grammars of Equality Practices of Equality and Non- Discrimination. 29 May 2015, École Supérieure, Paris, France Human Rights in Practice Lecture held by Barbara Liegl at the University of Klagenfurt on Human Rights in Practice: Antidiscrimination and Diversity Concepts, Methodologies and Tools, May June 2015, Klagenfurt June th European Forum on the Rights of the Child: Coordination and Cooperation in Integrated Child Protection Systems Contribution to the conference by Helmut Sax, upon invitation by the European Commission/DG Justice. 3 4 June 2015, Brussels, Belgium Opportunities and Pitfalls of Anti-discrimination policies in the European External Action Service Presentation of the paper at the FRAME Workshop Factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights: Challenges in internal and external policies of the European Union in Brussels. 12 June 2015, Brussels, Belgium Human Rights and Business Input by Karin Lukas at the symposion Treffpunkt Kaukasus: Business & Civil Society: Visions and Future of a Co-operation. 15 June 2015, Vienna Structure and Content of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union Presentation held by Katrin Wladasch at the seminar Charting the Charter organised by Equinet. 16 June 2015, Brussels, Belgium Child Trafficking among Vulnerable Roma Communities At this conference, marking the end of the EU funded project CONFRONT Countering new forms of Roma children trafficking: Participatory approach, Helmut Sax talked as panelist about differentiating child begging from trafficking of children for the purpose of begging exploitation. In addition, he moderated a panel on challenges in identifying child victims of trafficking for pickpocketing June 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria Discussion Group for Women: Violence against Women with disabilities Sabine Mandl presented the main findings of the project on violence against women with disabilities at the 5th Discussion Group for Women Meet Exchange Network in the AEP Women s Library in Innsbruck. 17 June 2015, Innsbruck Still a Taboo, but Omnipresent Violence against Women with Disabilities Together with Teresa Lugstein, Sabine Mandl held a presentation on violence against women with disabilities at the conference Prevention of Violence organised by the government of Tyrol. 18 June 2015, Innsbruck

49 Personal freedom and human dignity: residents representation and National Preventive Mechanism Presentation by Manfred Nowak at Festveranstaltung 10 Jahre Bewohnervertretung Der Schutz der persönlichen Freiheit ist ein Menschenrecht, VertretungsNetz Sachwalterschaft, Patientenanwaltschaft, Bewohnervertretung Wien. 18 June 2015, Vienna Peacekeeping und Menschenrechte Lecture on the human rights aspects and implications of peace-building and international interventions, introduction into concepts and forms of transitional justice, by Gerrit Zach and Andrea Schuechner. 20 June 2015, Krems Presentation Daphne Project After presentations by Julia Planitzer and Monika Mayrhofer on their fields of work, Sabine Mandl and Claudia Sprenger presented the setup, the implementation process and the main outcomes of the Daphne III project Access to specialised victim support services for Women with disabilities who have experienced violence during a study visit of Belarusian representatives of academic institutions organised by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights. 30 June 2015, Vienna International Treaty Law and Practice Training with Bhutan Core Team Members for Treaty Guideline Development at Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Royal Government of Bhutan and UNDP. 30 June 7 July 2015, Thimphu, Bhutan July 2015 Human rights of migrants international and European standards Lecture held by Katharina Häusler during the ENIGMMA Summer School on Migration Research, organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 1 July 2015, Kvareli, Georgia The shared quest for belonging in the arts and human rights Manfred Nowak participated in the panel at The 2015 Galway International Summer School on the Arts and Human Rights and moderated a workshop on Human Rights and Music, Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland July 2015, Galway, Ireland Music and arts as healing power during and after the siege of Sarajevo Presentation by Manfred Nowak at the National University of Ireland. 11 July 2015, Galway, Ireland Human rights protection in the European Union Lecture held by Katharina Häusler during the Summer School on European Policy-Making, organised by the Diplomatic Academy Vienna. 14 July 2015, Vienna Human rights, gender equality and women s empowerment and human trafficking Lecture held by Julia Planitzer in the framework of the Diplomatic Academy s Executive Training Programme in European and International Affairs for junior diplomats and civil service officials from the Danube Region and the Western Balkans. 22 July 2015, Vienna August 2015 International and European human rights system, human rights of women and trafficking in human beings Lecture held by Julia Planitzer in the framework of the Diplomatic Academy s Executive Training Programme in European and international Affairs for Junior Diplomats and Civil Service Officials from the Black Sea Region and South Caucasus August 2015, Vienna 49

50 September 2015 Smart Development Goals How to make sense of the SDGs? Expert debate with Manfred Nowak at the Austrian Development Agency. 1 September 2015, Vienna Women with disabilities exposed to violence Presentation held by Sabine Mandl at the European Conference on Domestic Violence. 6 9 September 2015, Belfast, UK Treatment of individual complaints in the United Nations system / Prohibition of torture: experiences of a former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Lectures and workshops with Manfred Nowak for the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco September 2015, Rabat, Morocco Human rights: origins, developments and current challenges Public Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the National Library of Morocco during a mission to the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco. 8 September 2015, Rabat, Morocco The right to work of asylum seekers in Austria? Presentation held by Margit Ammer at the Third congress of German speaking law sociology associations at the Humboldt University Berlin as part of the session Asylum and Human Rights promises between the poles of universal rights and national interests. 9 September 2015, Berlin, Germany Operationalizing ETOs in the context of climate financed projects Presentation by Monika Mayrhofer together with Jane Hofbauer at the workshop on climate justice in environmental migration, COST Action IS September 2015, Thessaloniki, Greece AHRI as policy maker Introduction by Manfred Nowak at The 2015 AHRI Human Rights Conference Human Rights and Universality, AHRI and Belgrade Centre for Human Rights September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Establishment and implementation of an effective human rights monitoring system Presentation by Moritz Birk and participation in the discussion on monitoring migration detention and the establishment of a human rights monitoring unit within the Georgian Migration Department as part of the project Enhancing Georgia s Migration Management (ENIGMMA) by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 21 September 2015, Tbilisi, Georgia Mutual trust vs. human rights? The EU s approach in the area of freedom, justice and security Paper presentation by Gerrit Zach at the 2015 AHRI Human Rights Conference in the framework of AHRI s PhD panel. 21 September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Universality of human rights: an ideal or a chameleon? A comparison between the EU and other regional human rights systems Presentation held by Monika Mayrhofer at the 2015 AHRI Human Rights Conference. 22 September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia Human rights in the external policies of the EU: Rhetoric or reality? Panel discussion statement by Manfred Nowak at the conference with Stavros Lambrinidis (EU Special Representative for Human Rights) at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs. 23 September 2015, Vienna 50

51 October 2015 Austria land of integration? Katrin Wladasch participated in a panel discussion on the policy of the state secretariat for integration ( ). 1 October 2015, Vienna EU asylum policy in the crisis? Panel discussion statement by Manfred Nowak. Republikanischer Club Wien. 1 October 2015, Vienna The need for a new UN convention on the human rights of older persons: Southern persistence, European resistance Keynote Speech by Manfred Nowak held at the Guest Lecture of Andrew Byrnes. 6 October 2015, Vienna Combating torture: Experiences as UN Special Rapporteur / Human rights as a response to growing economic inequality Presentation and lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the Aix Marseille Université. 8 9 October 2015, Aix-en-Provence, France The sanctions regime in discrimination cases Presentation of research findings at the Equinet Annual General Meeting via skype by Katrin Wladasch. 9 October 2015, Brussels, Belgium Follow-up on the CAT s concluding observations to Kazakhstan Manfred Nowak at the International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law October 2015, Astana, Kazakhstan Trafficking in human beings and the role of the private sector Input by Julia Planitzer on the role of corporate social responsibility as a tool against trafficking in human beings at the annual conference on trafficking in human beings of the Federal Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs: Joining Forces against Trafficking. 14 October 2015, Vienna Human rights in a federal state: Implementing the Council of Europe s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings out of GRETA s perspective Presentation given by Helmut Sax, Austrian member of the Council of Europe s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), on the implementation of findings of the monitoring process in Germany at a conference organised by KOK Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel. 18 October 2015, Berlin, Germany WUK counselling and education day Extrem radikal Patricia Hladschik, director of the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools gave an overview on preventive approaches and facilitated the panel discussion. 20 October 2015, Vienna Children s right to health care Presentation given by Helmut Sax at the symposium Social determinants of mental health of children, organised by ProMente Austria. 22 October 2015, Alpe-Adria University, Klagenfurt, Austria Panel discussion with students on politics and citizenship education Patricia Hladschik participated in the panel series of the student radio initiative Standpunkt. 22 October 2015, Radiokulturhaus, Vienna 51

52 Human rights: Core challenges and proposed solutions Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the Vienna Congress 2015 In search of Principles for a Stable World Order of the Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership October 2015, Vienna Combating Torture Presentation by Manfred Nowak at Poznan Human Rights Centre at the Institute of Legal Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences October 2015, Poznan, Poland Vom Alltagskonflikt zur Massengewalt Input by Manfred Nowak about the conflict in the Ukraine at the panel discussion about policy failures as causes of conflict and moderation of the panel about Islamist terror as compensation of feelings of inferiority. Annual conference of the Sir Peter Ustinov Institute. 29 October 2015, Vienna Child rights index for schools Helmut Sax presented a self-assessment tool for child rights protection at schools in the context of the second kick-off event for the Inclusive spaces project. Organised by queraum at a Viennese Secondary School. 30 October 2015, Vienna November Should a Point of no return be established in foster parent cases? Marion Zeilinger ( Parents for Children Austria ) and Helmut Sax held a workshop in the context of a conference organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Land of Lower Austria, assessing the need for legislative reform concerning child foster in Austria. 9 November 2015, St. Pölten Trafficking in human beings and the human rights based approach Presentation by and panel discussion with Julia Planitzer at the conference Global Social Responsibility Human Trafficking: global and local perspectives organised by the MCI and University of Innsbruck. 12 November 2015, Innsbruck Prejudices and political instrumentalisation in the Balkans. Status quo and future prospects 20 years after Dayton Nina Radović took part at one of the panels: Overcoming prejudices and dealing with the past in the context of Europeanisation of the Balkans. 12 November 2015, Diplomatic Academy, Vienna Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation Workshop held by Julia Planitzer in the framework of the conference Global Social Responsibility Human Trafficking: global and local perspectives organised by the MCI and University of Innsbruck. 13 November 2015, Innsbruck Health days for girls and women Panel input by Sabine Mandl at a female health conference organised by the City of Vienna, presenting findings of the research project Access to Specialised Victim Support Service for Women with Disabilities who have Experienced Violence, coordinated by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights. 14 November 2015, Vienna Digital dementia in childhood and adolescence Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the 30th meeting Pädiatrischer Samstag at the University of Linz. 21 November 2015, Linz Human rights and trafficking in persons: Preventive measures Julia Planitzer acted as rapporteur for the working group on preventive measures against trafficking in human beings in the framework of the 15th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights: Human Rights and Trafficking in Persons organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) November 2015, Montreux, Switzerland

53 Child trafficking in Germany the Council of Europe s recommendations Helmut Sax presented the findings of the Council of Europe s expert group (GRETA) on child trafficking in Germany, as part of a training workshop on child trafficking organised by ECPAT Germany November 2015, Germershausen/Göttingen, Germany HR Talks on the Sustainable Development Goals Input by Karin Lukas on the human rights aspects, novelties and implications of the Sustainable Development Goals. 25 November 2015, Juridicum, Vienna 5th Anniversary of the Humboldt Law Clinic Fundamental and Human Rights Manfred Nowak participated in the panel discussion Human rights and anti-discrimination law at the Humboldt Law Clinic Fundamental and Human Rights, Humboldt University Berlin November 2015, Berlin, Germany December 2015 Hate speech Lecture held by Hannes Tretter at the University of Pristina in the framework of the Twinning project Fight against homophobia and transphobia. 1 December 2015, Pristina, Kosovo Access to specialised victim support service for women with disabilities who have experienced violence In the framework of the annual conference of women counselling centres organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs, Sabine Mandl together with Elisabeth Löffler (BIZEPS, centre for independent living) presented findings of the research project on violence against women with disabilities. 3 December 2015, Vienna Environment and Migration: Which challenges are we facing? Lecture by Margit Ammer followed by a moderated discussion with other experts. Environment Agency Austria. 3 December 2015, Vienna Protection of the rights of trafficked children in Austria Input by Helmut Sax at a roundtable on Access to Justice and Promotion of the Rights of Trafficked Persons organised by the Slovak Human Rights League within the project Promotion of the rights of trafficked persons in Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia with Emphasis on Legal Support A Human Rights Based Approach. 7 December 2015, Bratislava, Slovakia Implementing the Convention against Torture (CAT): sharing best practice and experience in preventing torture in police custody in the Middle East and North Africa Introductory speech by Manfred Nowak at the regional workshop of the Convention against Torture Initiative and Wilton Park December 2015, Marrakech, Morocco Company-based grievance mechanisms a promising non-judicial remedy? Input by Karin Lukas on the potential and limitations of company-based grievance mechanisms at the Training Session III of the project Business and Human Rights challenges for cross border litigation in the European Union. Chair of the panel at the training session: Katharina Häusler. 16 December 2015, House of the European Union, Vienna FRA s activities during a difficult year Lecture held by Manfred Nowak at the FRA Roundtable 2015 with the new FRA director Michael O Flaherty. 16 December 2015, Vienna 53

54 Since 2007 the so called Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) has been established at BIM to enhance exchange within the institute. In an informal setting, BIM staff members and affiliates present recent research outcomes and discuss their work. Legislative elections 2014 in the Republic of Moldova Kirsten Saxinger talked about her experience during the elections on site. First she gave a short overview about the country itself and its political environment, then she talked about the organisation of the elections and the problems during the election campaign. 13 January 2015 Working Group Visibility Patricia Hladschik, Anna Müller-Funk and Karl Schönswetter presented new templates (letterhead, signatures, power point presentation) in order to strengthen the BIM corporate design. Furthermore they introduced the communication plan 2015 of the institute. 22 January 2015 Islam and Human Rights BIM is increasingly working in countries where Islam constitutes the state religion and also sometimes plays a pre-dominant role (Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Turkey). This BBL aimed to give a short introduction into Islam and its sources and focused on some specific human rights relevant questions and the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. The talk was held by Felix Kolbitz, an expert on Islam who previously worked in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and currently works on Yemen. 30 January seconds used wisely everday Astrid Steinkellner held a BBL regarding the topic Time and Project management. Tips and tricks how to better manage our time were followed by a discussion and an exchange of personal experiences. 12 February 2015 Access to Specialised Victim Support Services For Women with Disabilities Who Have Experienced Violence The project ended in January and Claudia Sprenger and Sabine Mandl presented the results and shared their experiences. They also presented the publications, conclusions and recommendations. 18 March 2015 National Human Rights Institutions a short introduction Patricia Hladschik presented two projects: the evaluation of the Swiss Expertise Centre for Human Rights, for which the BIM compiled a comparison of European NHRIs. And the Twinning project in Morocco which focuses on the National Human Right Institution (CNDH). 15 May 2015 ClimAccount: Human Rights Accountability of the EU and Austria for Climate Policies in Third Countries and their possible Effects on Migration ClimAccount examined the human rights based responsibility of the EU and its Member States regarding the implementation of climate policy in third countries. One of the basic research questions particularly dealt with extraterritorial human rights obligations in relation to the impact of the implementation of climate change policies in the context of migration/displacement and resettlement. Jane Hofbauer and Monika Mayrhofer presented the project. 27 May 2015 Promotion of the Ombudsman competences and enhancement of its capacities in Macedonia During the study visit of a Macedonian delegation Slavica Dimitrievska, State Counsellor and project-coordinator in the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia, visited the institute, presented the Twinning light project (implemented by BIM together with the Austrian Ombudsman Board) and talked about the current political situation in Macedonia. 15 July

55 People on the move/asylum and Refugee Law Internal workshop in order to ensure knowledge transfer, to exchange positions and viewpoints, and to identify strategies for the mainstreaming of the issue in different areas of BIM s work. 30 September 2015 Music and human rights Julian Fifer, Executive Director of the Musicians for Human Rights, talked about the Human Rights Orchestra and its human rights projects. Maria Haupt presented a common school project on the right to culture in cooperation with Musicians for Human Rights and the Lucerne Festival. Manfred Nowak facilitated a discussion about music and human rights. 5 October 2015 Greece in the crisis Niki Koumadoraki (Erasmus+ intern at the institute) shared her personal impressions on some aspects of the situation in Greece with BIM staff, for example: Which human rights are mostly influenced by the Greek crisis? 5 November 2015 Cinema and Human Rights is an events series in co-operation with the Research Centre Human Rights and the Viennese Top Kino. Documentaries on human rights topics are screened and discussed. The film evenings are also part of a seminar at the University of Vienna. Detailed information can be found at: ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN MOTION: Sepideh Reaching for the Stars 8 June 2015, Campus of the University of Vienna Sepideh wants to become an astronaut. She spends her night discovering the secrets of the universe, while her family tries everything to keep her on the ground and fulfill her dream. Film discussion with Berit Madsen (Director) and Jaleh Lackner-Gohari (Doctors without Borders; Iran in Vienna). Moderator: Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Organised by Melanie Pfeffer and Anna Müller-Funk. ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN MOTION: The Mortal Storm 9 June 2015, Campus of the University of Vienna The Mortal Storm was one of the first anti-nazi films in Hollywood, and in Germany screening of the movie was banned under Goebbels. Only in 1957 did the movie premiere in Germany. Film discussion with Rudi Gelbard (time witness) and Katharina Kniefacz (University of Vienna, Institute of Contemporary History). Moderator: Anna Müller-Funk (Research Centre Human Rights; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Organised by Melanie Pfeffer and Anna Müller-Funk. ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN MOTION: Fire in the Blood 10 June 2015, Campus of the University of Vienna Fire in the blood tells the story of how Western pharmaceutical companies and governments blocked access to affordable HIV/AIDS medication for the global south in the years after Film discussion with Dylan Mohan Fray (Director) and Christiane Druml (Austrian Bioethics Commission; Medical University of Vienna). Moderator: Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Organised by Melanie Pfeffer and Anna Müller-Funk. ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN MOTION: Lessons in Dissent (Austrian premiere) 11 June 2015, Campus of the University of Vienna Lessons in Dissent is a portrait of a new generation of Hong Kong s democracy activists. The student movement Scholarism, initiated and led by Joshua Wong, dedicates itself to stopping the introduction of Moral and National Education in Hong Kong s school curricula. Film discussion with Matthew Torne (Director) and Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik (Vice-rector of the University of 55

56 Vienna; Department for Sinology). Moderator: Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Organised by Melanie Pfeffer and Anna Müller-Funk. CINEMA AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Forbidden Voices (2012, Director: Barbara Miller) 17 June 2015, Schikaneder The screening took place on the occasion of the third anniversary of the imprisonment of the Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi. The event was organized by the Research Centre Human Rights and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights together with the human rights film festival this human world in cooperation with Amnesty International Austria, ARGE Raif and Reporters without Borders Austria. CINEMA & HUMAN RIGHTS: Seca (2015, Director: Maria Ramos) 4 December 2015, Schikaneder While Sao Paulo experiences the worst water shortage in decades, creating an acute public health crisis and attracting media attention, the Sertão region silently faces a severe drought, ruining crops and depleting herds. This beautiful road-movie by Maria Ramos, between documentary and fiction, accompanies the journey of a water-delivery truck through several villages, immersing us in the arid Brazilian landscape and in the lives of its characters. Screening followed by a discussion on the right and access to water with Alexander Öze (Austrian Red Cross) and Ursula Kriebaum (Faculty of Law, University of Vienna). Moderation: Anna Müller-Funk (University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). CINEMA & HUMAN RIGHTS: Marmato (2014, Director: Mark Grieco) 8 December 2015, Top Kino Filmed over a period of six years in the remote Colombian Andes, Marmato chronicles the confrontation between the inhabitants of a small village, most of them peasant miners, and a Canadian mining company, Medoro. Screening followed by a discussion with Teresa Dolezal and Manfred Nowak (University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Moderation: Sandra Benecchi (University of Vienna, Research Center Human Rights) CINEMA & HUMAN RIGHTS: Zero Silence (2011, Directors: Javeria Rizvi Kabani, Jonny Von Wallstrom, Alexandra Sandels) 9 December 2015, Filmcasino Zero Silence is a documentary film which highlights the courage and moral certitude shown by bloggers throughout the Arab world, examining the way in which they use the internet as a tool to expose injustice, criticize authoritarian power and push for societal change, and to what extent this democratisation of channels of communication brought about by the internet has succeeded in transforming the relationship between citizens and state. Screening followed by a discussion on the freedom of expression with Rubina Möhring (Reporters without Borders) and Thomas Schmidinger (University of Vienna, Department of Political Science). Moderation: Manfred Nowak (University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). CINEMA & HUMAN RIGHTS: On the bride s side (2014, Directors: Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele Del Grande, and Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry) 10 December 2015, Top Kino A Palestinian poet and an Italian journalist meet five Palestinians and Syrians who entered Europe via the Italian island of Lampedusa. They decide to help them complete their journey to Sweden and hopefully avoid getting themselves arrested as traffickers by faking a wedding. With a Palestinian friend dressed up as the bride and a dozen or so Italian and Syrian friends as wedding guests, they cross halfway over Europe on a four-day journey of three thousand kilometres. Screening followed by a discussion with Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry and Margit Ammer (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Moderation: Anna Müller-Funk (University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). 56

57 In spring 2009, a new series of discussion events was established by the research platform Human Rights in the European Context in cooperation with the BIM. In 2014, the research platform was transferred into the Research Centre Human Rights which continues these events series. Austrian and international experts discuss current human rights relevant topics from inter-disciplinary points of view. BIM staff usually contributes to this events series as panelists or moderators. Detailed information can be found at: HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: Universale Menschenrechte und Globaler Kapitalismus: David gegen Goliath? 26 March 2015, Aula am Campus Over 20 years ago at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria, 171 states came together and declared Human Rights to be universal, indivisible, and inalienable. Today, however, international enforcement mechanisms for social, economic, and cultural rights remain weak. The global financial crisis of the past years has demonstrated that questions of social equality, solidarity and distributional justice are intrinsically linked with social, economic and cultural rights and as such represent a central challenge of the 21st century. Panel discussion with: Manfred Nowak (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Research Centre Human Rights of the University of Vienna), Ulrich Brand (Institute of Political Science, University of Vienna), Elisabeth Springler (University of Economics Vienna; University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna) and Gabriele Tatzberger (Vienna Business Agency). Moderator: Irene Brickner (Der Standard). HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: Menschenrechte zwischen Religionen und Kulturen 14 April 2015, Juridicum Human rights are often criticized as being a eurocentric concept imposed upon other states, mostly by cultural imperialism. The idea that human rights are not compatible with some religions and cultures is sometimes invoked to question their universality. The question whether human rights are universal and should be globally valid has also been controversially discussed in the media in the recent months. Austrian-Canadian international law expert and human rights lawyer Peter Leuprecht addressed these issues in his presentation, followed by a panel discussion with Ingeborg Gerda Gabriel (Institute for Social Ethics, University of Vienna) and Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Moderator: Irene Brickner (Der Standard). HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: Law as a driver of societal change 19 May 2015, Juridicum The talk analysed innovative legal strategies, which improve the access to the law for vulnerable groups as well as to utilise law as a driver of societal change, such as strategic litigation. Moreover, universities as places for educating future law experts was central to the discussion. The progressive educational model of law clinics, in which experience oriented learning is combined with helping vulnerable clients, positively adds to the development of social responsibility of law students. Thus, the societal role of law experts can be reflected upon and questioned critically. At the same time, law clinics can play an integral role in society by collaborating with NGOs as well as law firms e.g. legal research, innovative academic approaches, and the development of international networks. These issues were discussed by Rolf Andrel (Rechtskomitee LAMBDA), Julia Ecker (Netzwerk AsylAnwalt), Marion Guerrero (European University Institute), and Stephan Sonnenberg (Human Rights Law Clinic, University of Stanford). Moderator: Irene Brickner (Der Standard). 57

58 HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: Has the EU s common asylum policy failed? 20 October 2015, Juridicum Discussion with Margit Ammer (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Monika Mokre (Department of Cultural Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences) Sieglinde Rosenberger (Department of Political Sciences at the University of Vienna), Adriano Silvestri (EU Fundamental Rights Agency) and Anahita Tascharofi (Flucht nach vorn). Moderator: Irene Brickner (Der Standard). HUMAN RIGHTS TALK: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: 2nd chance or last chance? 25 November 2015, Juridicum On the 25th September 2015, the United Nations passed the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The fight against poverty and hunger remains the centrepiece of the agenda. What new chances and opportunities does the 2030 agenda offer and what role international civil society has to play was discussed by Daniel Bacher (Dreikönigsaktion), Sabin Bieri (Center for Development and Environment, University of Bern), Karin Lukas (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Wolfram Schaffar (Department of International Development at the University of Vienna). Moderator: Manfred Nowak (Research Centre Human Rights, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). 58 During summer term 2015 and winter term 2015/16 the following courses and guest lectures were offered by BIM staff members: Law Faculty, University of Vienna International Judicial Decisions and their Political Context: Jane Hofbauer Jessup Moot Court: Jane Hofbauer The definition of trafficking in human beings, existing forms of exploitation, Directive 2011/36/ EU and the EU Strategy : Julia Planitzer European human rights protection (EU, Council of Europe, OSCE): Hannes Tretter Introduction into international law introduction into international basics of law: Manfred Nowak Practical excercises in International Law: Manfred Nowak International human rights regime: Manfred Nowak International Law: Manfred Nowak Public International Law II: Manfred Nowak Protection of fundamental and human rights between the European Union and the Council of Europe Overkill or fruitful dynamics?: Hannes Tretter International and European human rights framework concerning equality and non-discrimination: Monika Mayrhofer and Katrin Wladasch Crimes against humanity in the past and present: Prevention, intervention and prosecution: Hannes Tretter Freedom of the Media rhetoric and reality in Europe: Hannes Tretter

59 Master Courses at the University of Vienna Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights Mini moot court human rights: Jane Hofbauer General introduction to human rights: Manfred Nowak Human rights from an international legal perspective: Manfred Nowak Human rights standards and the mechanisms of the United Nations: Manfred Nowak Human rights standards and the mechanisms of the European Union (incl. OSCE): Manfred Nowak Rights to privacy and family life: Manfred Nowak Right to life: Manfred Nowak Freedom of expression, association and assembly: Manfred Nowak Thesis tutorial: Manfred Nowak Skills training: Manfred Nowak Human rights and privatisation: Manfred Nowak Feedback/reflection sessions: Manfred Nowak International struggle against torture legal aspects: Manfred Nowak Human rights, peace and security: Manfred Nowak EU Asylum and Migration Policy: Margit Ammer Environment and Human Rights: Margit Ammer Rights of children: Helmut Sax Trafficking in human beings: Helmut Sax Business and human rights: Barbara Linder and Katharina Häusler Torture effecting change, working in partnership: Moritz Birk The European Social Charter: Karin Lukas European and International Business Law Business and human rights: Karin Lukas International Legal Studies Human rights law: Manfred Nowak M.A.I.S. (Master of Advanced International Studies) MSc (Master of Science in Environmental Technology and International Affairs) The protection of human rights: Manfred Nowak The international struggle against torture: Manfred Nowak 59

60 Courses at various Universities and Colleges Danube University Krems Peacebuilding and human rights: Andrea Schüchner and Gerrit Zach The European Charter of Fundamental Rights: Hannes Tretter The European Convention on Human Rights: Hannes Tretter IMC Krems Bachelor seminar and bachelor thesis: Law and global political studies: Jane Hofbauer International Public Law and Institutions: Jane Hofbauer Revision class international class: Jane Hofbauer European University, Viadrina Civil and political rights: Moritz Birk University of Klagenfurt Anti-discrimination and diversity concepts, methodologies and tools: Barbara Liegl University of of Applied Sciences St.Pölten Trafficking in children a child rights concern at national, European and cross-border level: Helmut Sax Human rights of children and adolescents as a foundation for social work: Helmut Sax Federal Academy of Public Administration Vienna City of children s rights!: Helmut Sax International Anti-Corruption Academy Master in Anti-Corruption Studies, Laxenburg Corruption and human rights: Moritz Birk Sarajevo University; European Regional Master in Democracy and Human Rights in South-East Europe, Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies Understanding torture and enforced disappearance: Manfred Nowak Central European University/School of Public Policy Rights of migrants: Manfred Nowak 60 Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law/American University Washington College of Law United Nations human rights system: Manfred Nowak

61 Summer School on Political Violence/University of Edinburgh Political violence and human rights: Manfred Nowak Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights Trafficking in human beings: Julia Planitzer together with Ivana Jelić Human rights of children and human rights of women: Julia Planitzer together with Ajša Hadžibegović Social rights in Europe: Karin Lukas Human rights and corporate social responsibility: Karin Lukas Actual status and challenges of the UN human rights protection system: Hannes Tretter together with Ivana Jelić Initial lessons & discussions: What does democracy, rule of law and human rights mean? Is there a coherence of them? What are the powers in a modern democracy, how does the system of checks & balances work?: Hannes Tretter together with Ivana Jelić Responsibility to protect (R2P) Peace enforcement, humanitarian intervention & UN case studies (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Ruanda, Kuwait-Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Syria): Vasilka Sancin together with Hannes Tretter The Dayton Agreement and Bosnia and Herzegovina today: Wolfgang Petritsch together with Nina Radović The case of the Islamic State (IS) What could/should be done with regard to R2P and international criminal jurisdiction? Preparation of the role-play: Vasilka Sancin together with Hannes Tretter Role-play: Negotiations between UNO, OSCE, EU, USA, Russia, and the League of Arab States about possible solutions how the international community could/should react and what could be done to stop the terror and the crimes against humanity of the IS: Vasilka Sancin together with Hannes Tretter Introduction into the human rights regime of the Council of Europe: Hannes Tretter together with Ivana Jelić European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR): Hannes Tretter together with Ivana Jelić Freedom of expression, independence and pluralism of the media as preconditions for a living democracy: Hannes Tretter together with Filip Radunović The principles of equality and non-discrimination & Combating discrimination and underlying ideologies like racism, anti-semitism, xenophobia, islamophobia and homophobia, including LGBT rights: Katrin Wladasch together with Mehmed Dječević and Vanja Gagović Prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment including CPT, OPCAT and the rights of prisoners: Hannes Tretter together with Ivana Jelić Asylum, refugees, IDPs and immigrant societies: challenges and political concepts: Ivana Jelić together with Katrin Wladasch 61

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63 Publications Volume 33: Volume 34: Baxewanos, Fabiane: Defending refugee rights. International law and Europe s offshored immigrations control. Ed. by Manfred Nowak, Fiona Steinert and Hannes Tretter. Vienna; Graz: nwv, pp. Hohenwarter, Bettina: Das Recht auf Wasser. Die menschenrechtliche Verantwortung von Unternehmen und Staaten. Ed. by Manfred Nowak, Fiona Steinert and Hannes Tretter. Vienna; Graz: nwv, pp. BIM Position No. 6: Menschenrechtliche Verpflichtungen in der aktuellen Flüchtlingssituation. BIM Position No. 6. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, pp. Ammerer, Heinrich / Buchberger, Wolfgang / Brzobohaty, Johannes (eds.): Geschichte nutzen. Unterrichtsbeispiele zur Förderung von historischer Orientierungskompetenz. Vienna: Edition polis, pp. Haupt, Maria / Steininger, Sigrid / Ziegelwagner, Sonja: EUropa-Pass JUNIOR. Bist Du fit für Europa? Vienna: Zentrum polis, Haupt, Maria / Ziegelwagner, Sonja: EUropa-Pass TEACHER. Sind Sie fit für Europa? Vienna: Zentrum polis, Hladschik, Patricia: Normally different. Guidelines on how to identify discrimination in textbooks, focusing on gender and sexual orientation. Pristina: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pdf Mandl, Sabine / Schachner, Anna / Sprenger, Claudia / Planitzer, Julia: Zugang von Frauen mit Behinderungen zu Opferschutz- und Unterstützungseinrichtungen bei Gewalterfahrungen. Abschließender Projektbericht. Vienna [et al.]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Mandl, Sabine / Schachner, Anna / Sprenger, Claudia / Planitzer, Julia: Hilfe für Frauen mit Behinderungen bei Gewalt. Bericht über das Projekt. Version in Leichter Sprache. Vienna [et al.]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Nowak, Manfred: Menschenrechte. Eine Antwort auf die wachsende ökonomische Ungleichheit. Vienna: Ed. Konturen, pp Schuh, Maria / Lein, Therese / Leitner, Gabriela / Neuburg, Renate: Mehr haben oder mehr vom Leben haben? Vienna: Edition polis, 3., aktualisierte Ausgabe pp. 63

64 Udl, Elisabeth / Vogt, Kathrin / Mandl, Sabine / Schröttle, Monika: Zugang von Frauen mit Behinderungen zu Opferschutz- und Unterstützungseinrichtungen bei Gewalterfahrungen. Ergebnisse und Empfehlungen. Vienna [et al.]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Udl, Elisabeth / Vogt, Kathrin / Mandl, Sabine / Schröttle, Monika: Gewalt was kann ich tun? Infos für Frauen mit Behinderungen. Vienna [et al.]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Wladasch, Katrin: The sanctions regime in discrimination cases and its effects. Brussels: Equinet, pp. Bildungsfragen Europa und ökonomisches Lernen. Ed. by Gertraud Diendorfer, Patricia Hladschik and Alexandra Lechner-Amante. Schwalbach/Ts.: Wochenschauverlag, pp. European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann, Benjamin Kneihs and Manfred Nowak. Vienna: nwv, pp. First Fundamental Rights documents in Europe. Commemorating 800 years of Magna Carta. Ed. By Manfred Nowak, M. Suksi, K. Agapiou-Josephides and J.-P- Lehners. Cambridge [et al.]: Intersentia, pp. Handbook on monitoring places of deprivation of liberty. Tools and Legal Standards for Monitoring Torture and Ill-treatment in Places of Detention. Ed. by Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights and Tian Shan Policy Center of the American University of Central Asia. Bishkek: pp. Birk, Moritz / Kiselica, Ernan: Detention. Legal framework for the care of those in detention and the prohibition/prevention of torture, cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment. In: Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Ed. by Jason Payne-James and Roger W. Byard. 2nd edition. Vol. 2. Elsevier, 2016 pp Birk, Moritz / Zach, Gerrit: Torture Prevention in the EU Many Actors, Few Outcomes? In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann and Manfred Nowak. Vienna [et al.]: nwv, pp Birk, Moritz / Zach, Gerrit [et al.]: Enhancing impact of National Preventive Mechanisms. Strengthening the follow-up on NPM recommendations in the EU Strategic development, current practices and the way forward. Vienna [et al]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Birk, Moritz: Turning recommendations into reality. Improving the impact of detention monitoring bodies. In: PRI at the Crime Congress, Frahm, Michael / Mayer, Alisa: The legal importance and implementation of the Charter in Austria. In: Making the Charter of Fundamental Rights a living instrument. Ed. by Giuseppe Palmisano. Leiden: Nijhoff, pp Häusler, Katharina / Timmer, Alexandra: Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law in EU External Action: Conceptualization and Practice In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann and Manfred Nowak. Vienna [et al.]: nwv, pp Linder, Barbara / Lukas, Karin: Außergerichtliche Streitbeilegung im Fall von Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch Unternehmen. In: Nichtstaatliche Akteure und Interventionsverbot. Beiträge zum 39. Österreichischen Völkerrechtstag 2014 in Klosterneuburg. Ed. by Andrea Bockley, Ursula Kriebaum and August Reinisch. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang, pp Lukas, Karin: The Fundamental Rights Charter of the European Union and the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe partners or rivals? In: Making the Charter of Fundamental Rights a living instrument. Ed. by Giuseppe Palmisano. Leiden: Nijhoff, pp Lukas, Karin: The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter an alliance for social rights? In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann and Manfred Nowak. Vienna [et al.]: nwv, pp

65 Lukas Karin: The inspection panel of the World Bank. An effective extrajudicial complaint mechanism? In: The World Bank legal review, Vol. 6, Ed. by Jan Wouters [et al]. pp Mandl, Sabine / Planitzer, Julia: Art. 7 CEDAW, Umsetzung in Österreich. In: CEDAW Kommentar zum Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen zur Beseitigung jeder Form von Diskriminierung der Frau. Ed. by Erika Schläppi, Silvia Ulrich and Judith Wyttenbach. Bern: Stämpfli, pp Mandl, Sabine / Sprenger, Claudia: Gewalt an Frauen mit Behinderungen allgegenwärtig und noch immer tabuisiert. Ergebnisse aus dem EU-Forschungsprojekt Zugang von Frauen mit Behinderungen zu Opferschutz- und Unterstützungseinrichtungen bei Gewalterfahrungen. In: Juridikum Zeitschrift für Recht, Kritik, Gesellschaft, Nr. 4/2015. Vienna: Verl. Österreich, pp Mandl, Sabine / Sprenger, Claudia: Einmal die Bevölkerung wachrütteln, dass es so etwas überhaupt gibt. Gewalt an Mädchen und Frauen mit Behinderungen. In: AEP-Informationen, Nr. 4/2015. Innsbruck: AEP Arbeitskreis Emanzipation und Partnerschaft, pp Mayrhofer, Monika: Minderjährige Asylsuchende und Flüchtlinge: das Recht auf Bildung in Österreich. Hürden, Versäumnisse und Barrieren bei der Umsetzung von internationalen Menschenrechtsstandards und EU-Rechtsnormen. Vienna: ÖGfE Policy Brief 28, pp. Nowak, Manfred: Der Wert der Freiheit. Was bedeutet Freiheit aus menschenrechtlicher Sicht? In: Kirchen- und Gemeindekalender Ökumenisches Jahrbuch für Menschen in Kirche und Gemeinde. Ed. by Tobias Greilich and Erika Greilich. Ortenberg: Greilich, pp Nowak, Manfred / Steinert, Fiona: Menschenrechtskultur und Friedenserziehung im Garten der Menschenrechte. In: Friedensbrücken. Friedens- und Gedenkfahrt 70 Jahre Frieden in Österreich. Ed. by Heinz Spindler. Weitra: Verein Weg des Friedens, Nowak, Manfred: Eine Stadt für alle. In: Südwind Magazin, 2/2015. Vienna: Südwind Verein für Entwicklungspolitik und globale Gerechtigkeit, p. 9. Nowak, Manfred: Menschenrechte sollten Weltgesellschaft schaffen. In: Anwalt Aktuell, 1/2015. Salzburg: Dworschak & Partner. pp Nowak, Manfred: Macht schafft Recht? In: Österreichisches Anwaltsblatt 05/2015. Vienna: Manz, pp Nowak, Manfred: Festvortrag aus Anlass der Verleihung der Otto-Hahn-Friedensmedaille am 17. Dezember 2014 in Berlin. In: Mitteilungsblatt DAV Internationaler Rechtsverkehr, 49/2015. Berlin: Deutscher Anwaltverein, pp Nowak, Manfred: Torture Europe and the Americas. In: Europe and the Americas. Transatlantic approaches to Human Rights. Ed. by E.A. Andersen and E.M. Lassen. Leiden [et al.]: Nijhoff, pp Nowak, Manfred: Eine Pionierrolle für Europa. Analyse. Die Politik beschränkt sich auf bloßes Krisenmanagement. Sie muss aber die Oberhoheit über die Wirtschaft zurückerobern. In: Die Presse, ( ). Vienna: Die Presse Verlagsges., p. 39. Nowak, Manfred: Torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the OSCE region. In: European Yearbook on Human Rights Ed. by Wolfgang Benedek, Matthias C. Kettemann, Benjamin Kneihs and Manfred Nowak. Vienna: nwv, pp Nowak, Manfred / Januszewski, Karolina: Non-State Actors and Human Rights. In: Non-State Actors in International Law. Ed. by M. Noortmann, A. Reinisch and C. Ryngaert. Oxford: Hart, pp Nowak, Manfred: Torture, cruel, or degrading treatment or puishment. In: The 1949 Geneva Conventions. A commentary. Ed. by A. Clapham, P. Gaeta and M. Sassóli. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, pp Nowak, Manfred: Globaler Neoliberalismus verletzt historischen Konsens universeller Menschenrechte. In: Bananen, Cola, Zeitgeschichte. Oliver Rathkolb und das lange 20. Jahrhundert. Ed. by L. Dreidemy, R. Hufschmied [et al.]. Vienna [et al.]: Böhlau, pp Nowak, Manfred / Suksi, Markku / Agapioi-Josephides, K. / Lehner, Jean-Paul: The history of Fundamental Rights in Europe. In: First Fundamental Rights documents in Europe. Commemorating 800 years of Magna Carta. Ed. By Manfred Nowak, M. Suksi, K. Agapiou-Josephides and J.-P- Lehners. Cambridge [et al.]: Intersentia, pp Nowak, Manfred: Der politische Wille fehlt. In: Die Furche ( ). Vienna: Die Furche, p

66 Planitzer, Julia: Art. 6 CEDAW, Umsetzung in Österreich. In: CEDAW Kommentar zum Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen zur Beseitigung jeder Form von Diskriminierung der Frau. Ed. by Erika Schläppi, Silvia Ulrich and Judith Wyttenbach. Bern: Stämpfli, pp Radovic, Nina: Bürger/in sein in Bosnien und Herzegowina. In: IDM-Info, November Vienna: Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe, pp Sax, Helmut, Kinderrechte als Auftrag an die Sozialpädagogik. In: Sozialpädagogische Impulse Fachzeitschrift zur Orientierung und Fortbildung im Bereich Sozialpädagogik, 1/2015. Hollabrunn: MBC, pp Sax, Helmut, Umfassendes Wohlbefinden Gesundheit als Menschenrecht. In: inform Fachzeitschrift für Physiotherapie, Nr. 3 Juni Vienna: Physio Austria, pp Sax, Helmut, Kinder haben ein Recht auf Gesundheit Bitte warten... In pro mente: kijufa newsletter, 12/2015. Klagenfurt: pro mente, pp Tretter, Hannes: Alles für die Sicherheit? Wir spielen den Zielen des Terrors in die Hände. In: Salzburger Nachrichten ( ). p Ammer Margit / Sax, Helmut: Stellungnahme zum Entwurf eines Bundesgesetzes, mit dem das Asylgesetz 2005 geändert wird, 166/ME XXV. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, pp. Fraczek, Susanne / Huszka, Beáta / Hüttner, Claudia / Körtvélyesi, Zsolt / Majtényi, Balázs, Romsics, Gergely: Report on mapping, analysing and implementing foreign policy instruments in human rights promotion. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 6 Deliverable No IX, 200 pp. Häusler, Katharina / Lukas, Karin / Mayrhofer, Monika [et al.]: Report on the global human rights protection governance system. Ed. by Monika Mayrhofer. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 4 Deliverable No. 2, pp. Hoppenbrock, Jasper: Wo ein Henker, da kein Richter? Zu den rechtlichen Sanktionsmöglichkeiten der Verbrechen des Islamischen Staates. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, pp. Kozma, Julia: 25 years preventive monitoring of places of detention. Has the CPT achieved its goal in Europe? In: PRI at the Crime Congress, Lewis, Tamara / Müller-Funk, Anna [et al.]: Report on coherence of human rights policymaking in EU institutions and other EU agencies and bodies. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 8 Deliverable No. 1, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Zarrehparvar, Mandana [et al.]: Report on in-depth studies of selected factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights in the context of globalisation. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 2 Deliverable No. 2, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Kessing, Peter Vedel [et al.]: Report on factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 2 Deliverable No. 2.1, pp. Mayrhofer, Monika / Chavez, Carmela / Hegde, Venkatachala [et al.]: Report on the mapping study on relevant actors in human rights protection. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 4 Deliverable No. 4.1, pp. Müller-Funk, Anna / Parviainen, Eeva / Steinert, Fiona: Guidelines for developing a strategic approach towards communication on equal treatment of LGBT in Kosovo. Pristina: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Planitzer, Julia: Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labor exploitation: strengthening the role of corporations in preventing trafficking in human beings by enhanced transparency. Working Paper, pp.

67 Planitzer, Julia / Sax, Helmut: Case study trafficking in human beings, fostering human rights among European policies. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 11 Deliverable No. 11.2, pp. Sax, Helmut (ed.): Roma Communities in Österreich als Betroffene des Kinderhandels? Ergebnisse eines Forschungsprojekts (Countering new forms of Roma child trafficking: participatory approach), pp. Timmer, Alexandra / Majtényi, Balázs / Häusler, Katharina [et al.]: Crictical analysis oft he EU s conceptualisation and operationalisation of the concepts of human rights, democracy and rule of law. (FRAME) Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project Work Package No. 3 Deliverable No. 2, pp. polis aktuell. Magazine for teachers and multipliers 1/2015 Sprache und Politik 2/2015 Pop und Politik 3/2015 Demokratiequalität 4/2015 Politische Bildung im neuen Lehrplan Geschichte und Sozialkunde/Politische Bildung 5/2015 Flucht und Asyl Update: 1/2012 Alt und Jung polis electronic Newsletter Electronic newsletter on a regular basis with comprehensive information on citizenship education and human rights education. 67

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69 Projects this human world Vienna International Human Rights Film Festival Vienna Human Rights City Evaluation of the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) FRAME Fostering Human Rights Among European Policies CITYCoP BIH Civil Society Civil Society as a Factor for Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina ILECUs Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in South EastEurope by further Promoting International Law Enforcement Coordination Units which Combat Transnational Organized Crime Promotion of the respect of Rule of Law with particular emphasis on Transparency and Accountability ASSESS Integration of Vulnerable Migrant Groups EQUINET STUDY The Sanctions Regime in Discrimination Cases and its Effects ClimAccount Human Rights Accountability of the EU and Austria for Climate policies in Third Countries and their possible Effects on Migration Legal Protection against Discrimination in South East Europe EU Twinning Support to the Advancement of Human Rights and Zero Tolerance to Discrimination in Serbia EU Twinning Project against Homophobia and Transphobia in Kosovo EU Twinning Light Promotion of the Macedonian Ombudsman s Competences and Enhancement of its Capacities EU Twinning Improved Relations between Mass Media and Judiciary in Turkey EU Twinning Strengthening the Capacities of the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco EU Twinning Strengthening the Capacities of the National Human Rights Council in Morocco Improving Juvenile Justice Systems in Europe: Training for Professionals Assistance to the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency Child Rights Erasmus Academic Network (CREAN) CONFRONT Countering New Forms of Roma Children Trafficking: Participatory Approach Corporate Liability regarding Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Labour Exploitation and Access to Effective Remedy SELEX Severe Forms of Labour Exploitation Access to Specialised Victim Support Services for Women with Disabilities Who Have Experienced Violence

70 Consultation for the Austrian Development Co-operation in the Thematic Field of Governance, Human Rights and Securing Peace GLOBAL VALUE Assessing the Impacts of Multinational Corporations on Global Development and Value Creation Business and Human Rights challenges for Cross Border Litigation in the European Union Non-judicial Complaints: Striking a Balance between Business and Human Rights Interests OMV Gap Analysis Advice to OMV in the Area of Human Rights Strengthening the Fight against Torture and Impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, Accountability, Remedy and Reparation In-country research on measures and mechanisms which contribute to preventing torture and other ill-treatment in Kyrgyzstan Strengthening the Effective Implementation and Follow-up of Recommendations by Torture Monitoring Bodies in the European Union Increasing the Cooperation between Judiciary and NPMs: An Opportunity to Strengthen Fundamental Rights in the Implementation of EU Law JUSTICIA Implementation of the EU Directive on the Right to Information in Criminal Proceedings CHILDREN s RIGHTS BEHIND BARS. Human Rights of Children Deprived of Liberty: Improving Monitoring Mechanisms Support to Commission 4 and 5 of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (NPM) polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools Children s Rights and Participation Developing Indicators for Schools First Vienna Protest Path Violence against Women Educational measures Bringing Europe to the classroom Education for De-Radicalization ENGAGE Building together European Learning Material on Education for Citizenship Translation of the manual Bookmarks Combating Hate Speech Online through Human Rights Education Training Curriculum on Fundamental Rights for Judgeship Trainees Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights E.MA European Master s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation

71 this human world Vienna International Human Rights Film Festival From 3rd to 11th of December 2015, the human rights film festival this human world took place for the eighth time, with BIM together with the Research Centre Human Rights as one of the main partners of the festival. On the occasion of International Human Rights Day (10 December), the festival aims to raise awareness of the worldwide situation of human rights. More than 100 films were screened, highlighting the variety of human rights issues. As a research institution, BIM took on the role of analyzing the issues raised in the films from a human rights perspective and making them accessible for the wider audience by hosting panel discussions with BIM experts as well as invited guest speakers. These events were also part of the seminar Cinema and Human Rights, which was offered during the winter term at the University of Vienna for the eighth time. During the film festival, BIM put on four film screenings, all followed by panel discussions. These included: The Austrian premiere of Drought by Brazilian film director Maria Ramos The Austrian premiere of the Columbian documentary Marmato by Mark Grieco The Austrian premiere of Zero Silence by Javeria Rizvi Kabani, Alexandra Sandels and Jonny von Wallström The screening of the Italian production On the Bride s Side in the presence of one of the directors: Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry Altogether around 800 people visited the events organised by the BIM. Country Austria Persons involved Organisation and programming Anna Müller-Funk, Sandra Benecchi BIM experts Anna Müller-Funk, Margit Ammer, Manfred Nowak Funding and sponsoring > > Swiss Embassy in Austria > > Information Office of the European Parliament in Austria > > Profil Starting/end date 3 to 11 December 2015 Lead organisation > > this human world Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights > > Austrian Human Rights League > > Amnesty International Austria > > Reporter without Borders Austria > > Research Centre Human Rights > > many others Contact Anna Müller-Funk anna.mueller-funk@univie.ac.at Sandra Benecchi sandra.benecchi@univie.ac.at 71

72 Vienna Human Rights City Since 2013, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights is involved in the process of Vienna becoming a Human Rights City. After the important milestones of adoption of the declaration Human Rights City Vienna by the City Council on 19 December 2014 and the nomination of a Human Rights Commissioner, the process in 2015 saw the opening of the Human Rights Office of the City of Vienna in September. Whereas the declaration document establishes the framework conditions for creating a sustainable basis of human rights within the city structures, the main focus in 2015 was on the outline of an action plan and the identification of specifically human rights relevant policy areas. BIM experts proposed participation, social inclusion and fair distribution of resources, police and security policy as well as education as those fields of action which the implementation of measures should be focused on over the next years. This proposal was taken up by the steering group of the human rights city process and consequently found its way into the government programme of the newly elected municipal government in October Further work in 2016 deals with the elaboration of measures in the above mentioned policy areas under participation of stakeholders from city administration as well as civil society. Main outcomes of the process so far to which the BIM contributed are: The study Vienna City of Human Rights by Manfred Nowak supported by a number of BIM experts, 2012/13 The declaration Vienna City of Human Rights The conference Human Rights in the City: A City for All, 10 December 2014, organised by the BIM with the Research Centre Human Rights An analysis of the structure and capacities of the Viennese Contact Point Combatting Discrimination Outline Action Plan Human Rights in Vienna Country Austria Persons involved Project lead Fiona Steinert Project coordination Barbara Liegl Anna Müller-Funk Experts Patricia Hladschik, Stephanie Krisper, Manfred Nowak, Julia Planitzer, Helmut Sax, Mari Steindl Funded by > > City of Vienna, Municipal Department 17 Integration and Diversity Starting/end date May to December 2015 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation > > City of Vienna, Municipal Department 17 Integration and Diversity Publication Nachlese: Menschenrechte in der Stadt. Eine Stadt für alle. Symposion, 10. Dezember symposion_menschenrechte_in_der_stadt_ nachlese.pdf Contact Fiona Steinert fiona.steinert@univie.ac.at 72

73 Evaluation of the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) The Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) was a pilot project on behalf of the Swiss Federal Government. It aimed at promoting the implementation of international human rights obligations in Switzerland and at advising and supporting the authorities, the civil society and the business sector. BIM, together with the Swiss Consultancy Econcept, Zurich, was commissioned to evaluate the SCHR with the perspective of the further status and tasks of the Centre. In the course of the evaluation, benefit and added value of the SCHR were analysed and recommendations on possible transformation and development of the organisation were elaborated. The evaluation will be one of the cornerstones for the decision of the Swiss Federal Council whether or not the SCHR should be transformed into an independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) which conforms to the internationally valid Paris Principles. BIM elaborated a comparative study on different models of NHRI (comparison of five NHRI Germany, Austria, France, Ireland, and Norway) in order to give an overview of strengths and weaknesses of the different models. Country Switzerland Persons involved Researchers Patricia Hladschik Manfred Nowak Funded by > > Swiss Confederation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Federal Department of Justice and Police Starting/end date September 2014 until March 2015 Lead organisation > > Econcept AG, Zurich, CH Partner organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Publication Evaluation Report (not publicly available) Contact Patricia Hladschik patricia.hladschik@univie.ac.at 73

74 FRAME Fostering Human Rights Among European Policies The Treaty of Lisbon established human rights as fundamental principle and goal of EU measures. The EU faces a number of challenges, for example the fragmentation of competencies of the EU and its Member States in the area of human rights, or the contestation of the universality of human rights by EU partner countries. FRAME analyses the internal and external EU human rights policies and makes suggestions for example on how to better conceptualize and operationalize human rights, democracy and the rule of law within the EU, but also regarding other States and organisations. In 2015, a number of analytical reports have been authored, i.e. a report on the global human rights protection system; an in-depth study on selected factors that enable or hinder human rights protection; a report on the assessment of human rights integration in the area of freedom, security and justice; a mapping report on EU foreign policy instruments in the human rights domain; and a second Policy Brief for EU policy makers on the EU Action Plan on Democracy and Human Rights. Current BIM research is concerned with a case study report on national human rights institutions, one on European Enlargement Policy, and two journal articles on major findings of Work Package 2 (Factors influencing human rights protection) and Work Package 4 (Human rights institutions and instruments). Countries global Lead organisation > > Centre for Global Governance Studies, Leuven, BE Partner organisations > > 19 Partner organisations, including the Danish Institute of Human Rights, Åbo Akademi, Sevilla University, Nottingham University, Eötvös Loránd University, Pretoria University, Indian Society of International Law Persons involved Cluster Lead, Steering Committee Member Karin Lukas Work package Lead WP 4 Monika Mayrhofer Researchers Susanne Fraczek, Anna-Müller Funk, Patrick Harris, Katharina Häusler, Claudia Hüttner, Julia Planitzer, Helmut Sax, Katrin Wladasch Project administration Karl Schönswetter Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Research, 7th Framework Programme Starting/end date May 2013 to April 2017 Publications BIM contributed to the following FRAME reports: Fraczek / Huszka / Hüttner / Körtvélyesi [et al.]: Report on mapping, analysing and implementing foreign policy instruments in human rights promotion IX, 200 pp. Häusler / Lukas / Mayrhofer [et al.]: Report on the global human rights protection governance system. Ed. by Monika Mayrhofer pp. Mayrhofer / Zarrehparvar [et al.]: Report on in-depth studies of selected factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights in the context of globalisation. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen pp. Mayrhofer / Kessing [et al.]: Report on factors which enable or hinder the protection of human rights. Ed. by Eva Maria Lassen pp. Mayrhofer / Chavez / Hegde [et al.]: Report on the mapping study on relevant actors in human rights protection pp. Planitzer / Sax: Case study trafficking in human beings, fostering human rights among European policies pp. Timmer / Majtényi / Häusler [et al.]: Critical analysis of the EU s conceptualisation and operationalisation of the concepts of human rights, democracy and rule of law pp. Contact Karin Lukas karin.lukas@univie.ac.at 74

75 CITYCoP The theories underlying community policing received new impetus with the recent advent of smartphones and social media and especially the notion of user-generated content (UGC) where the users are citizens engaged in closer interaction with their local community and law enforcement agency. The five years have seen a rapid upsurge of smartphone apps aimed at improving crime reporting and other forms of UGC and interaction associated with community policing. CITYCoP sets out to learn what are the common features and the best practices embraced by apps which may have been successful worldwide and determine why apparently promising ones may have failed. It then goes on to produce a uniquely European solution including a smartphone app and an on-line portal, which are capable of being deployed in every European city while still retaining the local flavour and diversity. BIM develops a human rights framework for this project to ensure that the human rights of all those involved in the use of the app are protected and safeguarded. Countries global Persons involved Project manager Fiona Steinert Anna-Müller Funk Researchers Johanna Lober Anna-Müller Funk Isolde Prommer Karl Schönswetter Andrea Schüchner Hannes Tretter Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Research, Horizon 2020 Programme Lead organisation > > University of Groningen (RUG), Holland Partner organisations > > 22 partner organisations, including the University of Malta, the Fraunhofer Institut für Intelligente Analyse- und Informationssysteme, the Hoplite Software, the City of Florence, the Nutcracker Research and the South Yorkshire Police. Publication Human Rights Considerations for Community Policing. The report will be available in 2016 on the project website citycop.eu. Contact Anna Müller-Funk anna.mueller-funk@univie.ac.at Starting/end date June 2015 to May

76 BIH Civil Society Civil Society as a Factor for Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina Beginning of February 2014, citizens protests took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a sign of deep resentment and long lasting disappointment of the citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the political paralysis and the catastrophic economic and social situation in the country. Inspired by the protests, the question came up, what contribution can be made in order to strengthen the participation and ownership of citizens, thereby supporting social change in BiH, based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In 2014, the conference Civil Society as a Factor for Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought together various NGOs and informal civil society groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina. They had the opportunity to meet on neutral ground in Vienna and to discuss current developments and the future of BiH with Austrian and international representatives of civil society as well as with experts from various fields, to network and build new cooperation, and thus making steps forward in order to strengthen the civil society in their country. Starting from the needs of the citizens of BiH, joint ideas, concepts and new initiatives were discussed and developed, which resulted in recommendations which served as a starting point for further activities. One of the main outcomes was the idea to support informal and grass-root initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together with ERSTE Foundation and other partners of the initiative, eight groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina were selected, which receive financial support during one year (July 2015 July 2016) in order to respond to local needs and foster activities that strengthen the civil society in BiH. Countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria Persons involved Project leader Hannes Tretter Project coordinator Nina Radovic Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Contact Nina Radovic n.radovic@univie.ac.at Funded by > > Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs > > ERSTE Foundation > > Swiss Embassy in Sarajevo Starting/end date July 2015 to July

77 ILECUs Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in South EastEurope by further Promoting International Law Enforcement Coordination Units which Combat Transnational Organized Crime The project aimed at the sustainable improvement of national, international and regional cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime, which contributes to strengthening the rule of law and good governance in South East Europe. Beneficiaries of this project were the International Law Enforcement Coordination Units (ILECUs) which were established in South Eastern Europe as well as the ILECUs which were established in the Republic of Moldova and in the Republic of Georgia in the course of this project. An ILECU is a national coordination contact point dealing with criminal matters for a diverse range of European and international law enforcement cooperation organisations. The activities within the project aimed at strengthening the cooperation of the ILECUs and further developing their standard operating procedures via the Heads of ILECUs network. The Heads of ILECUs network is an important tool for promoting crucial human rights issues such as data protection, protection of the rights of victims as well as offenders and for integrating these aspects into the quality standards of the daily work of the ILECUs. In 2015, the project focused on capacity building of the staff members of the ILECUs by way of the second ILECUs Summer Academy implemented in Zagreb. Through the joint participation of representatives of the already well-established ILECUs and the new ILECUs in Moldova and Georgia mutual trust was developed, the Summer Academy motivated the participants to actively share their experiences, good practice examples and most challenging cases in the area of trafficking in human beings with each other. The participants were supported in professionally performing their duties in accordance with the standard operating procedures developed within the network of ILE- CUs and EU standards of good governance and human rights. Another focus of the project was to improve the skills and knowledge of police officers working in different regions in the Republic of Moldova. More than 70 police officers had the opportunity to strengthen their self-perception in a sense that they are providing services, which meet the needs of citizens in respecting and protecting human rights, rather than to be a police force serving solely the state. In that context the three workshops implemented by experts from the BIM and the Austrian police force aimed at raising awareness in the field of women s rights especially in the area of domestic violence and abuse, public order, trafficking in human beings and data protection. Countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia Persons involved Project leader Barbara Liegl Hannes Tretter Lead organisations > > Criminal Intelligence Service Austria > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Contact Barbara Liegl barbara.liegl@univie.ac.at Experts Sabine Mandl Julia Planitzer Christof Tschohl Project finances Karl Schönswetter Funded by > > Austrian Development Agency Starting/end date February 2013 to April

78 Promotion of the respect of Rule of Law with particular emphasis on Transparency and Accountability The Kyrgyz government has put the strengthening of rule of law at the top of its political, economic and social agenda. The rule of law-project at hand, funded by the EU, supports this focus. The activities of the project aim at reforming the Kyrgyz justice sector and at supporting the enhancement of transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures. The Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs supports BIM s participation in the project as Austrian partner in a consortium led by the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) together with the BIM is responsible for the implementation of activities relevant to human rights in component 1, which is geared to strengthening capacities and increasing the efficiency of control and supervisory functions of relevant State institutions. Coordinating partner on the Kyrgyz side is the Ministry of Justice. Moreover, Parliamentary committees, the Ombudsman Institution and the General Prosecutor s Office are cooperation partners in component 1. Civil society organisations have also been integrated in the planning and implementation of component 1 since the beginning of the project. Component 1 consists of an analysis of the institutional prerequisites and legal foundations of the supervisory functions of the above mentioned institutions. This analysis forms the basis for the formulation of recommendations concerning legal reforms as well as the development and implementation of measures for increasing the professional capacity and the coordination of the tasks and activities of these institutions. During the first months of the project, the focus was on the preparation and implementation of the analysis of the institutions with supervisory functions. On the basis of the conducted analysis, a work plan was developed together with Kyrgyz partners. Inter alia, BIM will support the General Prosecutor s office in better incorporating human rights in their curriculum for future prosecutors as well as developing a pool of Kyrgyz trainers towards this end. Furthermore, BIM works with all Kyrgyz partners on strengthening awareness among the Kyrgyz population on topics such as human rights and the rule of law. BIM s work is based on a partnership approach which considers the Kyrgyz partner organisations as experts for the further development of their institutions and thus all steps are closely planned, coordinated and implemented together with them. Country Kyrgyz Republic Persons involved Project management Claudia Hüttner Barbara Liegl Karl Schönswetter Short term experts Sintija Smite Mid term expert Johannes Chudoba Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Development and Cooperation EuropeAid Starting/end date August 2014 to November 2017 Lead organisation > > GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Entwicklung, DE Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, AT > > Danish Institute for Human Rights, DK > > Justice Coopération Internationale, FR > > Stiftung für Internationale Rechtliche Zusammenarbeit, DE > > International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Contact Claudia Hüttner claudia.huettner@univie.ac.at Gerrit Zach gerrit.zach@univie.ac.at 78

79 ASSESS Integration of Vulnerable Migrant Groups This project monitored and assessed the effectiveness of integration measures for three vulnerable migrant groups women, children and victims of trafficking. The assessment aimed to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the application of the Common Basic Principles on Migrant Integration when it comes to the integration of vulnerable migrant groups. In addition, it served to identify and initiate the exchange of good practice in the field between EU countries of different migration patterns, regimes and experiences. The project thereby addressed a gap in the analysis and evaluation of integration measures that have to a large extent adopted a generic approach. By looking at the specific vulnerabilities and integration challenges faced by migrant women, children and victims of trafficking the project offered tailored methodology and specific indicators for monitoring the integration of these vulnerable migrants groups. The project was carried out in 10 EU Member States that represent Europe s different migration patterns and experiences in dealing with migration and integration issues: in five old Member States with considerable immigrant inflows (Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain) and in five new Member States with evolving immigration patterns and regimes (Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia). Moreover, the project addressed developments at the European institution level. Countries Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Spain Persons involved Project lead Margit Ammer (until May 2014) Barbara Liegl (until August 2014) Jane Hofbauer (until June 2015) Researcher Susanne Kimm Funded by > > European Commission European Integration Fund Starting/end date December 2013 to May 2015 Lead organisation > > Center for the Study of Democracy, BG Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights > > Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies, University of Antwerp, BE > > Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, GR > > The People for Change Foundation, MT > > People in Need, SK > > Centre for Social Studies and Policies, IT > > Central European University, HU > > Foundation Center for International Relations, PL > > ACCEM, ES Contact Margit Ammer margit.ammer@univie.ac.at 79

80 EQUINET STUDY The Sanctions Regime in Discrimination Cases and its Effects The network of European equality bodies, Equinet, has commissioned BIM expert Katrin Wladasch to carry out a study on the sanctions regime in discrimination cases and its effects. The study aimed to identify different types of sanctions as a tool for fostering the implementation of the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination. A specific focus was given to the (potential) role of equality bodies in strengthening effectiveness, proportionality and dissuasiveness of sanctions regimes. Countries Europe Persons involved Project leader and researcher Katrin Wladasch Funded by > > Equinet Starting/end date May to October 2015 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Publication Wladasch, Katrin: The sanction regime in discrimination cases and its effects. Brussels: Equinet, pp. Contact Katrin Wladasch katrin.wladasch@univie.ac.at 80

81 ClimAccount Human Rights Accountability of the EU and Austria for Climate policies in Third Countries and their possible Effects on Migration Climate change policies can impact negatively upon human rights as well as cause evictions, displacement or other forms of migration. The projects aims at shedding light on this complex relationship between climate change, migration and human rights by focussing on the effect of climate change policies on the human rights of persons in third countries and migration, displacement and resettlement considering the national, regional, EU- and Austrian level by using a Human Rights Impact Assessment. The analysis of the international dimension of these negative human rights situations is therefore a key focus. This is not only aimed at determining the extent of direct (extraterritorial) human rights obligations of the EU and its member states, but also identifying further fields in which these actors assume a responsibility. Moreover, in order to reach final conclusions, three in-depth case studies of climate projects associated with these negative human rights impacts have been selected and conducted (Barro Blanco dam in Panama, Bujagali dam in Uganda, Olkaria geothermal project in Kenya). All three projects are registered under the Kyoto Protocol s Clean Development Mechanism and are largely financed by European banks the major parts of the case studies were carried out, case study reports were drafted and preliminary results were presented at a workshop in Thessaloniki in September. Countries Austria, Germany Persons involved Project leader Monika Mayrhofer Researchers Margit Ammer Jane Hofbauer Project assistance Margit Braun Funded by > > Austrian Climate and Energy Fund Starting/end date March 2014 to June 2016 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisations > > Bielefeld University, Research Unit on Transnationalization, Development and Migration (DE) > > Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (DE) Publication Good Practise Study on Follow-up to Recommendations. Contact Monika Mayrhofer monika.mayrhofer@univie.ac.at 81

82 Legal Protection against Discrimination in South East Europe The countries in South East Europe (SEE) have very comprehensive laws on anti-discrimination, most of which meet the international, CoE and EU standards. However, just like in most of the EU member states awareness for these laws is rather low and the institutional and structural framework conditions are not conducive to effective implementation of the legal provisions. The aim of the project is to improve the capacities of relevant stakeholders such as equality bodies, ombud institutions, state authorities, courts as well as legal practitioners to act against discrimination in SEE. The project supports improving the quality of education on anti-discrimination anchored in legal training, establishing a regional dialogue between relevant stakeholders and facilitating national and regional exchange of experiences and transfer of successful solutions/models on anti-discrimination. The project is implemented by way of three work packages (WP): The implementation of a regional study on Legal protection against discrimination (WP 1), facilitation of developing regional approaches to combat discrimination (WP 2) and establishment of common regional standards for antidiscrimination curricula at law faculties (WP 3). The BIM focuses on the research conducted within WP 1, which identifies good practices as well as challenges and systemic obstacles for effective legal protection against discrimination in the SEE countries. The study looks into the implementation of anti-discrimination provisions by equality bodies, ombud institutions and the judiciary covering aspects like access to justice, social awareness of legal protection and other practical aspects. Furthermore, the study will map out whether law departments at universities in the SEE countries offer courses on anti-discrimination law or integrate anti-discrimination aspects in their educational programs. The BIM has developed the structure for the country reports, the guidelines for implementing the desk research as well as the interviews. Based on the country reports, the BIM will develop a policy paper including recommendations on how the capacities of relevant stakeholders such as equality bodies, ombud institutions, state authorities, courts as well as legal practitioners can be strengthened in order to be able to more effectively and efficiently implement legal provisions on anti-discrimination and support victims of discrimination in gaining access to justice more easily. Countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia Persons involved Project leader Barbara Liegl Expert Katrin Wladasch Funded by > > Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Starting/end date October 2015 to August 2016 Lead organisation > > Open Regional Fund for South East Europe Legal Reform (GIZ), DE Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights > > South East European Law School Network (SEELS) > > Judicial Training Institutions of SEE > > Equality bodies of SEE Contact Barbara Liegl barbara.liegl@univie.ac.at 82

83 EU Twinning Support to the Advancement of Human Rights and Zero Tolerance to Discrimination in Serbia The EU Twinning project supports Serbia s continuing efforts to harmonise its legislation with the EU acquis and establish an efficient and effective system for protection against discrimination, protection of the rights of minorities and human rights defenders. The aim is to strengthen the existing capacity of the Office for Human and Minority Rights (OHMR), the Commissioner for Protection of Equality (CPE) and other key stakeholders such as judges, prosecutors and the police for the implementation of human rights and to make anti-discrimination policies more effective at national and local level. Activities of the project aim at supporting the Office for Human and Human Minority Rights in implementing and monitoring the implementation of various action plans such as the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination The capacities of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality as the equality body to prevent and combat discrimination will be strengthened by improving the quality of recommendations issued as well as the data collection capacities. The project will also support the CPE in increasing her visibility at the regional and local level to ensure equal access to justice for persons who have experienced discrimination. 20 municipalities throughout the country will be supported in implementing awareness raising and preventive anti-discrimination measures. In autumn 2015 BIM experts contributed to a wide range of project activities, including drafting of questionnaires on data collection, conceptualising a guideline for data collection on national minorities, conducting workshops with CPE-staff working on improving the effectiveness of recommendations and analysing the legal framework for the protection of minority rights. Country Serbia Persons involved Project leader Hannes Tretter Resident Twinning Adviser Barbara Liegl Project management Heidrun Aigner (until July 2015) Agnes Taibl (since July 2015) BIM key experts Moritz Birk, Karin Bischof, Monika Mayrhofer, Anna Müller-Funk, Dieter Schindlauer, Karl Schönswetter, Andrea Schüchner, Katrin Wladasch Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General for Enlargement Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisations > > Office for Minority Rights, SI > > National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), FI Beneficiary institutions (SR): > > Office for Human and Minority Rights (OHMR) > > Commissioner for Protection of Equality (CPE) Contact Agnes Taibl agnes.taibl@univie.ac.at Starting/end date August 2015 to May

84 EU Twinning Project against Homophobia and Transphobia in Kosovo Under the motto normally different the overall objective of this project is to contribute to enhancing human rights protection in Kosovo by tackling homophobia and transphobia as one face of discrimination and social exclusion. On the path to a diverse and inclusive society, based on the protection of human dignity and human rights, it is crucial to have anti-discrimination legislation amended, policies implemented and the awareness raised among relevant stakeholders who hold the power to change society and foster social cohesion. Following the goal of underlining that diversity is normality and of strengthening the professional attitude of relevant stakeholders and authorities in this sense, the main activities include an analysis of the existing anti-discrimination legislation and the institutional structures in relation to sexual orientation and identity as well as the development of a monitoring and evaluation system regarding respect, protection and promotion of equal treatment of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Intersexual) persons. A major focus of the project is on awareness raising and capacity building for Kosovo authorities, with a number of trainings being carried out within different professional groups (general administration, judiciary, police, and education sector). Further awareness raising activities will also target journalists and media representatives. Another component of the project aims at improving access for the LGBTI community to legal and psychological counselling in partnership with civil society partners. Finally, strategic partnerships between government, civil society, the international community and regional stakeholders shall be fostered by supporting the work of the national Advisory and Coordination Group for the Rights of the LGBTI Community. The recommendations for increased effectiveness of anti-discrimination legislation as well as for action plans and sector strategies to take into account equal treatment of the LGBTI community, which were elaborated by MS experts in 2014, have been taken into consideration in the 2015 adopted and degreed law package (protection of discrimination, gender equality and Ombudsperson). A comprehensive training of trainers course was completed and special trainings in the areas of administration, education, judiciary and the police were held. In the course of the training programme, a BIM expert elaborated textbook guidelines which have been published and will be presented to the Advisory and Coordination Group for the Rights of the LGBTI Community beginning of Workshops with members of the civil society have been held, addressing training needs regarding counselling. MS experts presented recommendations on a monitoring system to the Advisory and Coordination Group for the Rights of LGBTI Community and supported the Group s work with a lecture on hate speech. Country Kosovo Persons involved Project leader Fiona Steinert Resident Twinning Adviser Dieter Schindlauer BIM key experts Karin Bischof, Patricia Hladschik, Barbara Liegl, Anna Müller-Funk, Hannes Tretter Project management Jana Frühauf Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General for Enlargement Starting/end date March 2012 to March 2016 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisations > > National Institute for Health and Welfare, F > > Ombud for Equal Treatment, AT > > Vienna Anti-Discrimination Unit for Lesbian, Gay and Transgender People, AT Beneficiary institution (KS) > Office for Good Governance Publication Hladschik, Patricia: Normally different. Guidelines on how to identify discrimination in textbooks, focusing on gender and sexual orientation. Pristina: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], Contact Jana Frühauf jana.fruehauf@univie.ac.at 84

85 EU Twinning Light Promotion of the Macedonian Ombudsman s Competences and Enhancement of its Capacities The Office of the Ombudsman of Macedonia was established in Its task is to protect the constitutional and legal rights of the citizens in Macedonia when violated by bodies of state administration or other public bodies or organizations. Since 2011 the office has been coordinating three new departments: The National Preventive Mechanism (for preventing torture), the Department for Non-discrimination and Adequate and Equitable Representation of Minorities, and the Department for Children Rights and Persons with Special Needs. The project activities therefore focused on enhancing the Office s capacities in protection of fundamental rights and freedoms and on strengthening its outreach and visibility in line with international standards and best practices. Aside from the central office in Skopje, BIM experts also worked with the Deputy Ombudspersons and their staff in the regional offices in Bitola, Kichevo, Kumanovo, Shtip, Strumica and Tetovo, which handle complaints and maintain communication at a local level. The activities consisted of on-the-job trainings for the staff of the six regional offices, establishing outreach and awareness-raising campaigns with a focus on online media, organizing round table events (on the situation of detention places for migrants and asylum seekers, on street children s access to rights, on Roma inclusion in primary education, and on children with autism in elementary education), strengthening staff s skills in performing prevention and protection monitoring visits (to daily centres for street children, social care centres, centres for persons with disabilities, centres for elderly persons, and centres for asylum seekers and refugees) as well as producing written recommendations on the improvement of the office s working standards in line with international requirements. On the Austrian side, the project was implemented in close cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board under the overall Project Leadership of Gertrude Brinek, Chairperson/Member of the Board. Country Macedonia Persons involved BIM Senior key expert Katrin Wladasch Project management Christian Wawrinec BIM key experts Moritz Birk, Tiphanie Crittin, Stephanie Krisper, Anna Müller-Funk, Helmut Sax, Andrea Schüchner, Karl Schönswetter Lead organisation > > Austrian Ombudsman Board in cooperation with Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation > > Beneficiary institution (MK): Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia Contact Christian Wawrinec christian.wawrinec@univie.ac.at Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Starting/end date April 2015 to March

86 EU Twinning Improved Relations between Mass Media and Judiciary in Turkey The overall aim of this Twinning project was to systematize and strengthen relations between the Turkish judicial system and the Turkish media. The BIM supported the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) in implementing this project as leading institution together with the Turkish Ministry of Justice and with the Dutch Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) as junior partner. Trying to tackle existing problems in the relationship between media and the judiciary, the project followed a two-fold approach, addressing both sides. In order to increase confidence in the judiciary and to meet the right of access to information, on the one hand media spokespersons in the judicial institutions were trained in providing the media with quick and accurate information regarding the cases and investigations conducted by judicial bodies. On the other hand, the project aimed at raising media representatives awareness of judicial activities and the sensitiveness involved with regard to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary as well as fair trial rights of defendants. The focus of the first component thus lay on the establishment of a judicial media spokespersonship, by creating corresponding structures both at the level of the Ministry of Justice as well as selected courts, coupled with extensive training activities. By the closure of the project in October 2015, a judicial spokesmanship system has been established and is well-functioning in five pilot provinces. The second component, targeting journalists and media representatives, concentrated on strengthening the relations between independent media and the judiciary in terms of protecting fundamental rights, mainly through several trainings for judicial correspondents. Project activities in 2015 focused mainly on this second component, for which the BIM provided Austrian expertise for the preparation of a training curriculum, the assessment of existing codes of conduct as well as the development of a strategy plan on media and judiciary relations and press guidelines for the judiciary and court journalists. Country Turkey Persons involved BIM key expert Hannes Tretter Project management Susanne Fraczek Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General for Enlargement Starting/end date May 2013 to October 2015 Lead organisation > > German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation, DE Partner organisations > > Center for International Legal Cooperation, NL > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, AT Beneficiary institution (TR): > > Ministry of Justice Contact Susanne Fraczek susanne.fraczek@univie.ac.at 86

87 EU Twinning Strengthening the Capacities of the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco The Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH) was established in the course of the Moroccan constitutional reform in Its task is to supervise the compliance of human rights standards on part of the government and to ensure the implementation of international human rights conventions. The project aims at supporting the activities of the Delegation and to strengthen its organisational structures and technical capacities. Main activities of the project are the improvement of structures and operational procedures by devising handbooks, elaborating a training curriculum, holding trainings, analysing legislation and the supervision of the implementation and evaluation of the national human rights action plan. The expected results of the project include an improved dynamic of the structure of the DIDH, an expansion of the technical capacities of the DIDH, a contribution to the harmonisation process of the legal acquis concerning the constitutional demands and international norms, and an integration of the human rights approach in programmes and policies of the respective Moroccan public institutions. BIM s participation in project activities was manifold, consisting of the elaboration of a staff development and training curriculum, the formulation of a thematic handbook on the rights of persons deprived of liberty as well as of a methodological handbook for monitoring UN human rights recommendations. Both handbooks will become part of later training activities for DIDH staff and other government stakeholders. Furthermore, BIM s experts also conducted a coaching for the DIDH s Convention Against Torture Task Force, an exchange on the work done by the DIDH and assistance in the preparation of the Strategic Plan. Country Morocco Persons involved Junior project leader Patricia Hladschik Project management Claudia Hüttner BIM key experts Moritz Birk Tiphanie Crittin Manfred Nowak Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Starting/end date October 2014 to October 2016 Lead organisation > > Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas together with Ministry of the Presidency/ Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, ES Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, AT > > Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l Homme together with France Expertise Internationale, FR Beneficiary institution (MA): > Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights Contact Claudia Hüttner claudia.huettner@univie.ac.at 87

88 EU Twinning Strengthening the Capacities of the National Human Rights Council in Morocco The Moroccan National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has been strengthened under the constitutional reform of 2011 and is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in Morocco. It emerged from the Consultative Human Rights Council, which was in turn established in the context of a national institutional and legislative reform wave in The international obligations of the Kingdom of Morocco, the events of the Arab Spring and the political situation in the neighbouring countries of Northern Africa, as well as the increasing expectations of the Moroccan population in regard to the implementation of human rights in everyday life are challenging the CNDH in its role of being the main actor in the implementation of national and international human rights mechanisms. In this context, the competencies of the staff of the CNDH as well as its Regional Human Rights Commissions are strengthened on an organizational and thematic level to ensure that they are properly prepared to exercise the CNDH s function and responsibilities in the promotion of human rights, for example in the areas of conflict prevention techniques and peaceful settlement of disputes, electoral observation, investigation of possible violations of human rights, the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism for preventing torture, methodology for the preparation of reports and advice to the United Nations, and rights of migrants and asylum seekers. Main activities of the project are the formulation of a human resources development plan, of training plans and implementation of trainings in the abovementioned areas, the organization of study visits to share experience and practices from EU Member States, and the establishment of an operational management and a quality management system. Country Morocco Persons involved Junior project leader Patricia Hladschik Project management Christian Wawrinec BIM key experts Moritz Birk, Tiphanie Crittin, Katharina Häusler, Stephanie Krisper, Barbara Linder, Manfred Nowak, Gerrit Zach Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Lead organisation > > Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l Homme together with France Expertise Internationale, FR Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, AT > > Center for International Legal Cooperation, NL Beneficiary institution (MA): > > Conseil National des Droits de l Homme Contact Christian Wawrinec christian.wawrinec@univie.ac.at Starting/end date July 2015 to June

89 Improving Juvenile Justice Systems in Europe: Training for Professionals In 2010 the Council of Europe adopted its Guidelines for Child-Friendly Justice, supported also by the EU Commission. This project aims to practically link these Guidelines with existing standards, specifically on juvenile justice, through a collection of good practices as a basis for a Training Toolkit and Manual, in order to ensure a consistent application of these standards across the European region. The implementation is centred around two core activities: a train-the-trainer-program, based on the Toolkit developed by the project lead, International Juvenile Justice Observatory, IJJO Brussels; and interdisciplinary national workshops on child-friendly justice for relevant stakeholders, such as lawyers, social workers and prison staff. Special attention will be paid to individualised concepts of juvenile support and on alternatives to detention. The BIM participates actively in the development of the Toolkit and the Manual, as well as in the train-the-trainer-seminar in Brussels. Furthermore, two national workshops will be organised in 2016 for application of the materials in Austria; the feedback will be used to finalise the Toolkit and Manual. In January 2017, a final conference for presentation and dissemination of the results is foreseen. Countries 13 EU Member States (BE, AT, CY, CZ, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, LV, PT, UK) Persons involved Project management Helmut Sax Moritz Birk Project implementation Sabine Mandl Funded by > > European Union, EC Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice Lead organisation > > International Juvenile Justice Observatory, IJJO Partner organisations > > For a list of the 13 partners, see Contact Helmut Sax helmut.sax@univie.ac.at Starting/end date March 2015 to February

90 Assistance to the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), established on 1 March 2007 in Vienna, has resumed and continuously expanded the work of the former European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). The Agency s objective is to provide the relevant institutions and authorities of the EU and its member states with assistance and expertise relating to fundamental rights when implementing the Community law. Above and beyond giving advice to institutions and Member States, FRA is in charge of the collection and analysis of comparable information and data on the fundamental rights situation and its development in the EU, as well as developing methods and standards to improve the quality and comparability of data at EU level. The Agency s main tasks further comprise the realisation and promotion of scientific research and surveys as well as cooperation with civil society and awarenessraising, aimed at the establishment of a network through the Fundamental Rights Platform. On 11 March 2013 the Council adopted the new Multiannual Framework for the Agency according to which FRA will primarily be engaged in the following issues: access to justice, victims of crime, including compensation to victims, information society and, in particular, respect for private life and protection of personal data, Roma integration, judicial cooperation (except in criminal matters), rights of the child, discrimination, immigration and integration of migrants, visa and border control and asylum, racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. Hannes Tretter was the Austrian independent member of the Management Board (MB) of FRA since 2008, since July 2012 this appointment is held by Manfred Nowak. The MB is in charge of the formulation of a Multiannual Framework Programme for the Agency, the determination of FRA s annual work programme and budgeting, the adoption of the annual report and the appointment and dismissal of the Agency s director. In 2008 the MB decided to appoint Morten Kjærum from Denmark as first Director of the Agency. His successor is the Irish human rights expert Michael O Flaherty. In his function as vice chair of the FRA MB Manfred Nowak is also member of the Executive Board, which prepares the decisions of the MB and consults the director. In the exercise of these functions the scientific assistance provided by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights is essential, with regard to research on and suitable preparation of issues and questions in the context of the tasks of FRA and its MB. Additionally, it includes the organisation and managing of Round Table Discussions, the coordination of scientific institutions, NGOs, political actors and public authorities in Austria, as well as the dissemination of information on FRA s activities amongst the latter and the public. At the Roundtable 2015 that took place in the House of the European Union, the new Director of the Agency for Fundamental Rights, Michael O Flaherty, was introduced to Austrian civil society and provided an overview to offer up his considerations regarding the promotion and protection of fundamental rights within the EU. Country Austria Persons involved Vice Chair of FRA Management Board Manfred Nowak Scientific and administrative assistance Anna Müller-Funk Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Contact Anna Müller-Funk anna.mueller-funk@univie.ac.at Funded by > > Austrian Federal Chancellery Starting/end date ongoing since September

91 Child Rights Erasmus Academic Network (CREAN) In December 2012, a new cross-european network was established in Berlin, in the field of human rights of children and adolescents: the Children s Rights Erasmus Academic Network (CREAN). CREAN is coordinated by Freie Universität Berlin and spans across 35 partner universities and academic institutions in 29 countries; the Research Centre Human Rights at Vienna University, represented by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, acts as the Austrian counterpart to CREAN. Among the aims of this academic network are the establishment of a platform for interaction and mutual learning between policy-makers, practitioners and academia in the field of children s rights, the formation of a European-wide body of promising early career researchers and graduates, the development of academic manuals and other materials and the encouragement of curricula reform and development. For this purpose, three pan-european academic conferences with active BIM participation took place: on children s rights in research processes (Madrid, September 2013), on the child s right to non-discrimination (Vilnius, December 2014) on children s rights and the aims of education (final conference, Geneva, July 2015) Moreover, a summer school was implemented (Braga/Portugal, 2014), a child rights prize for early career researchers was awarded (2015), and two sub-regional networks were established (for the Nordic and the Mediterranean region). Countries 29 European/Mediterranean countries Persons involved Researcher Helmut Sax Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Education and Culture, Lifelong Learning Programme Starting/end date October 2012 to September 2015 Lead organisation > > Freie Universität Berlin Partner organisation > > 35 partner universities and academic institutions Publications Sax: Mainstreaming of Child s Rights Teaching The Vienna Experience, in: Hanson/Lutz/Volonakis, Collection of good practices for university teachers on interdisciplinary children s rights teaching, Sion university-teaching-in-childrens-rights/ crean-good-practice-teaching-methods/ For further publications and results, see publications-and-ressources/texts/ Contact Helmut Sax helmut.sax@univie.ac.at 91

92 CONFRONT Countering New Forms of Roma Children Trafficking: Participatory Approach The primary objective of this project, which was carried out simultaneously in seven EU Member States, lied in building a better understanding on specific forms of child trafficking which are often linked almost stereotypically to the situation of Roma (e.g. begging with children). For this purpose, the project aimed to actively seek to involve Roma organisations and discuss jointly ways to deal with the issue of child trafficking. Project goals: strengthening of child protection measures in relation to child trafficking in Europe, with emphasis on specific forms of child trafficking, contributing to counter stereotypical images about Roma being affected by child trafficking, through direct involvement of Roma groups, strengthening of Roma as partners in action against child trafficking, including through sensitisation of all relevant anti-trafficking stakeholders and the development of pilot mediation activities in Austria. Country Reports, including on Austria, are available at: Countries Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania Persons involved Project leader Helmut Sax Researchers Julia Planitzer Astrid Winkler (ECPAT Austria) Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Home Affairs, ISEC Programme > > Austrian Federal Ministry for Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Starting/end date July 2013 to June 2015 Contact Helmut Sax helmut.sax@univie.ac.at Lead organisation > > Center for the Study of Democracy, BG Partner organisations > > BIM, AT > > CENSIS Institut, IT > > Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), GR > > Center for Policy Studies/Central European University, HU > > People in Need, SK > > Soros Foundation Romania, RO Publications Synthesis Report: Dimitrova, Kamelia / Ivanova, Slavyanka / Alexandrova, Yva (Eds.): Child Trafficking Among Vulnerable Roma Communities: Results of country studies in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Sofia: CSD, new-forms-of-trafficking/synthesis-report/ Project findings on Austria, incl. on pilot mediation: Sax, Helmut (ed.): Roma Communities in Österreich als Betroffene des Kinderhandels? Ergebnisse eines Forschungsprojekts Vienna: BIM,

93 Corporate Liability regarding Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Labour Exploitation and Access to Effective Remedy In recent years more knowledge has been gained on trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation. More and more cases have come to the fore in many economic sectors, including agriculture, construction, garments, care and cleaning work. Nevertheless, access to effective remedies is often out of reach for trafficked persons. Additionally, it is often difficult for those affected to hold companies accountable in case of labour exploitation. This project analyses corporate liability regarding trafficking in human beings (THB) for the purpose of labour exploitation and exploited workers existing possibilities to have access to effective remedies. The project identifies legal avenues that can be used in order to claim compensation from corporations. Exploited workers and their legal possibilities to claim compensation from corporations by criminal or civil proceedings are at the centre of this project. The study will focus on Austria and assess to what extent the Austrian legislation provides for means of sanctioning corporations in the context of THB. Thereby it feeds into ongoing research on THB and compensation for corporate human rights violations. Country Austria Persons involved Lead researcher Karin Lukas Researcher Julia Planitzer, Katharina Häusler Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Contact Julia Planitzer Administration Margit Braun Funded by > > Austrian National Bank, Jubilee Fund Starting/end date May 2015 to April

94 SELEX Severe Forms of Labour Exploitation The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) conducted a study on severe forms of labour exploitation in the EU. Within this project, BIM implemented the following activities: Evaluation of country reports of the participating EU-countries Evaluation of transcripts and reporting template of the participating EU-countries Assistance in the analysis of qualitative data collected Assistance and contribution to drafting the overall comparative report The study analysed which sectors are prone to labour exploitation. Interview partners mentioned agriculture, construction, accommodation and food services as well as cleaning as sectors, in which most of the cases of labour exploitation are identified. By interviews, it was assessed which risk factors lead to labour exploitation. Furthermore, reasons for not reporting exploitation to public institutions, such as the police or to NGOs were identified. Countries 21 participating EU-countries Persons involved Project leader Julia Planitzer Researchers Astrid Ganterer Liliana Sorrentino Shivaun Scanlan Funded by > > European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Starting/end date March 2014 to February 2015 Lead organisation > > European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Partner organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Publication European Agency for Fundamental Rights (ed.): Severe labour exploitation: workers moving within or into the European Union States obligations and victims rights, fra-2015-severe-labour-exploitation_en.pdf Contact Julia Planitzer julia.planitzer@univie.ac.at 94

95 Access to Specialised Victim Support Services for Women with Disabilities Who Have Experienced Violence In the framework of this project the participating countries Austria, Germany, United Kingdom and Iceland, co-ordinated by BIM as the lead organisation, explored to which extent women with disabilities who have experienced violence are able to access the range of mainstream victim support services and provisions (shelters, helplines, rape crisis centres, women counselling centres, etc.). Furthermore, the research focused on the different forms and dimensions of violence which women with disabilities are exposed to. Through qualitative approaches (focus group discussions, expert interviews and biographical interviews) and quantitative methods (online survey) research data was acquired from representatives of victim support services and women with disabilities who have experienced violence. The results were presented in a range of various accessible formats, such as brochures and reports (in Easy Language, audio files and sign language videos) The project also intended to raise public awareness about this taboo subject and to facilitate and strengthen the networking between disability service providers and specialised victim support facilities. The project was based on participatory research through the substantial involvement of women with disabilities in all stages of the research process (in the research team and in the advisory groups). An externally accompanied self-evaluation and advisory groups in each country provided quality assurance. In January 2015 the results and publications were presented at the final conference in the house of the EU in Vienna, with 120 persons participating. All results are available on the project-website: Countries Austria, Germany, Iceland, United Kingdom Persons involved Project leader, researcher Sabine Mandl Researchers Claudia Sprenger Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Justice, DAPHNE-III-Programme > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs Starting/end date February 2013 to January 2015 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisations > > NINLIL, AT > > Queraum, AT > > University of Leeds, GB > > University of Glasgow, GB > > University of Gießen, DE > > University of Iceland, IS Publications Final Short Report (in Easy Language, Audio file, Sign language Video) Brochure for women with disabilities (in Easy Language, Audio file, Sign language Video) Brochure with recommendations to service providers and specialised victim support services as well as policy-makers All publications are available in German, English and Icelandic: humanrights.at/publications Contact Sabine Mandl sabine.mandl@univie.ac.at 95

96 Consultation for the Austrian Development Co-operation in the Thematic Fields of Governance, Human Rights and Securing Peace In 2012, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights extended its longstanding co-operation with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through a framework contract. Its goals are to further root and develop Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance, as well as Preventing Conflict and Securing Peace within the work of ADA and the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. In 2015, activities for ADA included consultations in the field of human rights and business (e.g. complaint mechanisms and development cooperation), as well as advice on ADA s country strategy for Moldova and the upcoming country strategy for Ethiopia. Regarding Moldova, BIM and external experts analysed ADA s possibilities for engagement in the area of governance. Other focuses laid on the second part of the ADA-BMeiA-BIM education event on the Human Rights Based Approach and on consultations on the Human Rights Based Approach in fragile contexts. Country Austria Persons involved Researcher, coordination Claudia Sprenger Sabine Mandl Team leader, researcher Manfred Nowak Karin Lukas Researchers Margit Ammer, Moritz Birk, Tiphanie Crittin, Katharina Häusler, Claudia Hüttner, Johanna Lober, Karin Lukas, Julia Planitzer, Helmut Sax, Gerrit Zach Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation > > oiip: Österreichisches Institut für internationale Politik Contact Claudia Sprenger claudia.sprenger@univie.ac.at Sabine Mandl sabine.mandl@univie.ac.at Funded by > > Austrian Development Agency Starting/end date March 2012 to March

97 GLOBAL VALUE Assessing the Impacts of Multinational Corporations on Global Development and Value Creation The private sector is an important actor in addressing global development challenges. Despite the calls for corporate accountability, comprehensive frameworks supporting multinational companies (MNCs) to manage and measure their development impacts are still lacking. The GLOBAL VALUE Project aims at addressing this need. It offers: An evidence-based, credible and independent impact assessment framework, including an indicator set, and toolkit for MNCs. A policy roadmap and recommendations for decision makers in policy, business and civil society organisations. Empirical evidence enriching the academic discourse on development impacts of MNCs and the interrelations between responsible business practices, competitiveness, and official develop ment assistance. Methodological advancements in corporate impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, as well as crowd intelligence and design thinking in a research context. The BIM supports the project with human rights expertise. In 2015, BIM experts conducted a case study on the core labour standards in the Tanzanian tea sector. In preparation, BIM and the German Öko-Institute, made a field trip to Tanzania. Countries global Persons involved Researchers Karin Lukas Barbara Linder Claudia Sprenger Project management Barbara Linder Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Research, 7th Framework Programme Starting/end date January 2014 to April 2017 Lead organisation > > Institute for Managing Sustainability (RIMAS), Vienna Partner organisations 11 Partner organisations, including: > > Aalto University, FI > > Öko-Institut e.v., DE > > Nottingham University, UK > > Central European University, HU > > BRAC, BD > > Sokoine University, TZ Contact Barbara Linder barbara.linder@univie.ac.at 97

98 Business and Human Rights challenges for Cross Border Litigation in the European Union National civil courts have the potential to provide appropriate redress for victims of human rights abuses caused by multinational corporations but, many times, they lack jurisdiction or adequate procedural rules. The most common jurisdictional principles in tort cases call for the jurisdiction of the courts of the country where the tort took place (such as article 5.3 Regulation (EC) 44/2000). Certain situations of massive human rights violations, armed conflicts or institutional discrimination that may have taken place in that country may go, however, hand in hand with an inadequate, biased or easily manipulated judiciary. Furthermore, the applicable law will probably be the law of the country in which the damage occurs (cf. art. 4.1 Regulation (EC) 864/2007), which may be a country with insufficient legal norms. The aim of the project is to explore judicial and non-judicial remedies within the EU to hold companies domiciled in a Member State liable for human rights violations for which they or their subcontractors are responsible, wherever the damage might have occurred. In addition to the research results, the project also develops a practical handbook on judicial and non-judicial redress mechanisms for human rights abuses by European corporations and offers trainings for stakeholders in the area of business and human rights. One of the four training seminars took place on 16 December 2015 in Vienna. The BIM is mainly responsible for non-judicial redress mechanisms, building on the research results of previous projects in this area. Countries Europe Persons involved Researchers Karin Lukas Katharina Häusler Julia Planitzer Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Justice; co-financed in Austria by the > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Chamber of Labour Vienna Starting/end date 15 September 2014 to 14 September 2016 Lead organisation > > Instituto de Gobernanza Democrática Globernance, San Sebastian, ES Partner organisations 13 European partner organisations, among which: > > Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Brabant / Tilburg University, NL > > Frank Bold Society, CZ > > Universidad de Navarra, ES > > Universitat Rovira i Virgili, ES > > Universteit Utrecht, NL > > Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira SLP, ES > > Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, HR Contact Karin Lukas karin.lukas@univie.ac.at 98

99 Non-judicial Complaints: Striking a Balance between Business and Human Rights Interests The international human rights system is traditionally State-based. It provides legal remedies for conflict resolution, however, these are usually lengthy, complex and often unsatisfactory. In consequence, there exists a gap in legal protection or redress for victims of corporate human rights violations. Extrajudicial complaint mechanisms can provide an alternative to legal action. In this project, nine non-judicial complaint mechanisms are analysed, including those of the World Bank, a wellknown manufacturer of sports equipment and the Fair Labor Association. The research project strongly relates to the effectiveness criteria of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and previous research work of the BIM (study on the Right to Remedy, 2013). In 2015, the research team continued the assessment of the selected grievance mechanisms. Preliminary findings were presented in October 2015 at the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association, and in December 2015 in conjunction with the Human Rights in Business project. Our research shows a growing body of non-judicial mechanisms with mixed results in terms of effectiveness, and critical attention to be paid to the linkages between judicial and non-judicial remedies in the future. The project is part of a growing international research landscape on extrajudicial grievance mechanisms and will offer critical insight on effective protection for victims of corporate abuse. Country Austria Persons involved Lead researcher Karin Lukas Researchers Barbara Linder Claudia Sprenger Funded by > > FWF Austrian Science Fund Starting/end date January 2013 to April 2016 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Publication Karin Lukas, The Inspection Panel of the World Bank. An Effective Extrajudicial Complaint Mechanism? World Bank Legal Review, Volume 6, 2015 Contact Barbara Linder barbara.linder@univie.ac.at 99

100 OMV Gap Analysis Advice to OMV in the Area of Human Rights This project supports the Austrian corporation OMV in the implementation of its human rights strategy in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2015, the existing human rights tools were revised to include pertinent developments, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. For example, an internet-based learning tool on human rights was developed and rolled out which strongly referred to the standards of the UN Guiding Principles. Persons involved Project implementation Karin Lukas Manfred Nowak Walter Suntinger Funded by > > OMV Starting/end date ongoing since April 2006 Lead organisation > > Human Rights Consulting Vienna Partner organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Contact Karin Lukas 100

101 Strengthening the Fight against Torture and Impunity in Kyrgyzstan: Prevention, Accountability, Remedy and Reparation The project was a response to the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment (UNSRT) to assist Kyrgyzstan with technical expertise in its fight against torture and ill-treatment and to requests made by Kyrgyz civil society organisations for more support from international torture prevention experts. The Government of Kyrgyzstan has in recent years reaffirmed its commitment to bring the justice and law enforcement system up to international standards in respect of the provisions of the international human rights regime and to eradicate torture in the country. Torture and ill-treatment remains, however, a widespread phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan, as also observed by the UNSRT Juan Méndez during his visits to the country in 2011 and Against this background, the present project provided technical expert assistance to the Kyrgyz State authorities and Kyrgyz civil society in the ongoing reform efforts with the overall objective of strengthening the fight against torture and impunity in Kyrgyzstan. The project used the momentum created by the consideration of the situation in the Kyrgyz Republic before international human rights bodies (the Human Rights Committee in 2014 and the UPR in 2015) and incorporated and followed up the recommendations resulting from these discussions in ongoing project activities. The project supported legal and institutional reforms in order to increase accountability of perpetrators of torture and to enhance effective investigations into torture allegations. The project also provided technical and capacity building support to the newly established National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and to NGOs of the Coalition against Torture, and aimed at increasing awareness of international standards of remedy and reparation. Country Kyrgyz Republic Persons involved Project manager Andrea Schuechner Researchers Tiphanie Crittin Andrea Schüchner Moritz Birk Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Development and Cooperation EuropeAid Starting/end date February 2014 to September 2015 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation > > Tian Shan Policy Centre of the American University of Central Asia Publication Handbook on monitoring places of deprivation of liberty. Tools and Legal Standards for Monitoring Torture and Ill-treatment in Places of Detention. Ed. by Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights and Tian Shan Policy Center of the American University of Central Asia. Bishkek: pp. Contact Andrea Schuechner andrea.schuechner@univie.ac.at 101

102 In-country research on measures and mechanisms which contribute to preventing torture and other ill-treatment in Kyrgyzstan The prohibition of torture is one of the few absolute and non-derogable human rights and obliges states to take effective measures to prevent torture. Measures for the prevention of torture can be found in human rights treaties such as the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT) as well as the comprehensive jurisprudence and numerous recommendations of international, regional and national human rights mechanisms, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Nevertheless many States fail to take effective measures for the prevention of torture or the measures taken fail to achieve the expected results and torture remains a problem in the majority of countries worldwide, often on a widespread scale. The internationally active torture prevention NGO Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) commissioned the renowned human rights expert and lecturer at the University of Oxford Brookes, Richard Carver, to lead a three-year research project to determine if torture prevention works and which factors can reduce the risk of torture. After an exploratory and pilot phase in 2013, in 2014 country case studies were carried out in 12 countries worldwide, in order to analyse by means of desk research and interviews with the most important stakeholders from the State, civil society and international organisations, the effectiveness of torture prevention measures over the last 30 years. The research was conducted according to a clearly defined methodology discussed with all country researchers at a workshop in Geneva in January The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights and the Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek carried out the country research on Kyrgyzstan and presented their results to the national stakeholders in Bishkek in October Further, all research results and country reports were presented and discussed with all country researchers in Geneva in November The country report on Kyrgyzstan was finalised in January 2015 and the final project publication, comparing and analysing the results from all countries is expected by the end of The results of the research shall support institutions worldwide in their fight against torture and can be used to develop effective evaluation tools for, among others, National Preventive Mechanisms. Country Kyrgyz Republic Persons involved Researchers Moritz Birk (BIM) Aida Baijumanova (TSPC) Lira Ismailova (TSPC) Nurlan Alymbaev (TSPC) Funded by > > Association for the Prevention of Torture, Geneva Starting/end date January 2014 to January 2015 (expanded until December 2016) Lead organisation > > Association for the Prevention of Torture, Geneva Partner organisations > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights > > Tian Shan Policy Center, American University of Central Asia Publication/expected results Birk, Moritz / Baijumanova, Aida / Ismailova, Lira: Does Torture Prevention Work? (expected in 2016) Contact Moritz Birk moritz.birk@univie.ac.at 102

103 Strengthening the Effective Implementation and Follow-up of Recommendations by Torture Monitoring Bodies in the European Union The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT), through its system of preventive monitoring of places of detention, provides State Parties with systematic observations and recommendations by the international UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT) and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) concerning the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other ill-treatment. Currently 24 NPMs in the EU carry out visits to places of detention. In addition, the SPT is mandated to provide advice aimed at strengthening the capacity and mandate of the NPMs, and has developed recommendations and guidance on the establishment and functioning of NPMs. At the same time, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) periodically visits detention facilities in Member States of the Council of Europe and provides detailed reports and recommendations. Flowing from these three levels of monitoring activities is a vast body of recommendations helping States to prevent torture and other ill-treatment. In order to ensure that these recommendations are implemented in practice, effective procedures and methodologies of follow-up as well as effective coordination and cooperation between the different monitoring bodies are increasingly important. In addition, EU institutions can potentially play an important role in following-up and integrating these recommendations into EU level policies and decision-making to promote effective implementation of standards to prevent torture and other ill-treatment across the EU. This project aimed to strengthen the effective implementation and follow-up of recommendations made by torture monitoring bodies on the national, regional and the international levels by conducting comprehensive research on good practices of follow-up procedures. Furthermore, the project aimed to support and improve coordination between NPMs, the CPT and the SPT through a series of workshops. In addition to the monitoring bodies themselves, the project targeted representatives of civil society and EU institutions. The collected practices and lessons learnt were subsequently analysed in a study entitled Enhancing impact of National Preventive Mechanisms. The research has revealed numerous good practices, yet also a lack of a strategic approach as well as weak coordination and cooperation with international mechanisms and institutions, notably the EU. It was also published as a booklet and thus hopefully is useful for practitioners and policy-makers. Country Austria Persons involved Project management Gerrit Zach Researchers Moritz Birk Walter Suntinger Gerrit Zach Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Justice > > Council of Europe > > Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Starting/end date March 2014 to May 2015 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation > > Human Rights Implementation Centre University of Bristol Publication Birk, Moritz / Zach, Gerrit [et al.]: Enhancing impact of National Preventive Mechanisms. Strengthening the follow-up on NPM recommendations in the EU Strategic development, current practices and the way forward. Vienna [et al]: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights [et al.], pp. Contact Gerrit Zach gerrit.zach@univie.ac.at 103

104 Increasing the Cooperation between Judiciary and NPMs: An Opportunity to Strengthen Fundamental Rights in the Implementation of EU Law Judicial cooperation in criminal matters within the EU is based on the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions. The EAW and the common rules on detention, which include three mutual recognition Framework Decisions, were created to improve judicial cooperation in the EU. These laws enable prison sentences, probation decisions or alternative sanctions and pre-trial supervision measures to be executed in an EU country other than the one in which the person is sentenced or awaiting trial, such as the country of nationality, residence or another EU country with which the person has close ties. Their implementation is based on the principle of mutual trust, which implies that conditions of detention and procedural safeguards are equivalent in all EU Member States. In reality, however, large discrepancies exist, which might raise significant fundamental rights concerns. With regard to detention conditions, the European Commission stressed in the past that prison overcrowding and allegations of poor treatment of detainees may undermine the trust that is necessary to underpin judicial cooperation within the EU. With regard to some of these challenges, National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) could play an important role: Currently 24 NPMs carry out monitoring visits to places of detention in the EU and thus possess a considerable expertise about the treatment and conditions of detention in their countries. At the same time, research recently conducted by the BIM shows that there is hardly any interaction between the judiciary and NPMs on the national level and even less so across Europe. BIM and the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier are therefore aiming at filling this gap through a project increasing the awareness of the judiciary of NPMs and the relevance of the latter in the implementation of the EAW and common rules on detention. A good practice study will be published on judicial cooperation and the role of NPMs to strengthen the consistent and correct implementation of EU law in criminal matters, based on research and on three events to be organised in the framework of the project. Country European Union Persons involved Project management Tiphanie Crittin Researchers Moritz Birk Tiphanie Crittin Gerrit Zach Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Partner organisation Academy of European Law (ERA), Trier Contact Tiphanie Crittin tiphanie.crittin@univie.ac.at Funded by > > European Commission, Directorate General Justice Starting/end date October 2015 to March

105 JUSTICIA Implementation of the EU Directive on the Right to Information in Criminal Proceedings The project encompasses research about the status quo of EU Directive 2012/13/EU on the right to information in criminal proceedings in Austria and six other EU member states. It is part of the JUSTICIA network on procedural rights and its activities that aim at strengthening procedural rights in criminal proceedings within the EU. The research consisted of two parts: a legal analysis looking at the implementation of the Directive as well as an analysis of the Directive s practical implementation. For the second, practical part, firstly an electronic survey was conducted among lawyers. Subsequently, the project team conducted in-depth semi-structural interviews with some of the lawyers, a judge and the Austrian Ombudsman Board. The Austrian chapter was concluded by end of 2015, a comparative analysis of all seven EU member states is planned to be drafted in the course of The results shall then also be discussed with the Austrian Justice and Interior ministries as well as the EU Commission in Country Austria Persons involved Project management Gerrit Zach Researchers Gerrit Zach Nora Katona Funded by > > European Union Starting/end date September to December 2015 Lead organisation > > Human Rights Monitoring Institute, LT Partner organisations JUSTICIA network partners: > > International Centre for Constitutional Rights, IE > > Associazione Antigone Onlus, IT > > Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, PL > > Hungarian Helsinki Committee, HU > > Rights International Spain, ES Publication Bericht über die die Umsetzung der Richtlinie 2012/13/EU über das Recht auf Rechtsbelehrung und Unterrichtung in Strafverfahren Österreich Kapitel. Contact Gerrit Zach gerrit.zach@univie.ac.at 105

106 CHILDREN s RIGHTS BEHIND BARS. Human Rights of Children Deprived of Liberty: Improving Monitoring Mechanisms Several international, regional and national human rights institutions conduct monitoring visits to places of detention, such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) or the National Preventive Mechanisms under the OPCAT. These monitoring bodies, in particular the CPT and the SPT, implement regular visits to detention centres, including juvenile detention facilities and police holding cells, to verify conditions of detention of detainees. Yet, practical and comprehensive guidelines for the monitoring of institutions for juveniles do not yet exist, despite their particular needs and rights. This project was thus created with the aim of improving international juvenile justice monitoring standards and practice in order to protect the needs of incarcerated minors. Its outcome will be a practical guide to be used by professionals when visiting centres where children are being deprived of their liberty. The guide will be disseminated throughout EU Members States in brochure form, as well as in web format. It should enhance the coordination of Member States in their juvenile justice policies and harmonise practices between existing monitoring bodies. The BIM was in charge of the elaboration of the national report on Austria, which is a research and analysis of monitoring and complaints mechanisms of juvenile detention facilities in the country. The final guide is based on the results drawn by each national report. Countries European Union Persons involved Researchers Tiphanie Crittin Helmut Sax Funded by > > European Commission, DG Justice, Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice Starting/end date March 2014 to February 2016 Lead organisation > > Defence for Children International (DCI), BE Partner organisations > > Organisations from Belgium, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and Serbia Associate partner: > > Council of Europe Publication Crittin / Majnek / Sax: Human Rights of Children Deprived of Liberty: Improving Monitoring Mechanisms Austria National Report, September Contact Tiphanie Crittin tiphanie.crittin@univie.ac.at 106

107 Support to Commission 4 and 5 of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (NPM) The Commissions of the Austrian Ombudsman Board are an integral part of the Austrian National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The new Commissions were set up on 1 July Their mandate is based on the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). They control the implementation of the CAT as well as of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD). The Commissions carry out visits and have unrestricted access to all places of detention as well as institutions and facilities for people with disabilities. They also monitor the use of force by police authorities, e.g. demonstrations. The Commissions report the results of their findings to the Austrian Ombudsman Board. In these reports, they can make recommendations, suggest determinations of cases of maladministration and measures of supervisory control. In 2015, the commissions focussed on detention of mentally-ill persons, conditions of detention, use of force by the police in the public sphere, restriction of physical freedom (especially by medication in homes and hospitals) and prevention of violence in social-pedagogic institutions. The coordination of Commission 4 (chaired by Ernst Berger) is residing at the BIM as was the coordination of Commission 5 (chaired by Manfred Nowak) until the end of Manfred Nowak s mandate on 30 June Country Austria Persons involved Director, Commission 4 Ernst Berger Director, Commission 5 Manfred Nowak (until 30 June 2015) Members, Commission 4 Andrea Berzlanovich, Georg Dimou (new since 1 July 2015), Karin Fischer (new since 1 July 2015), Sandra Gerö (until 30 June 2015), Helfried Haas, Hannes Lutz (new since 1 July 2015), Christine Pemmer, Petra Prangl (until 30 June 2015), Nora Ramirez Castillo, Walter Suntinger (until 30 June 2015) and Barbara Weibold (new since 1 July 2015) Starting/end date Ongoing since July 2012 Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Partner organisation > > Austrian Ombudsman Board Contact Caroline Paar caroline.paar@univie.ac.at kommission4@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at Stephanie Krisper stephanie.krisper@univie.ac.at kommission5@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at Members, Commission 5 Lisa Alluri, Harald David (until 30 June 2015), Marijana Grandits (until 30 June 2015), Sabine Ruppert, Maria Schernthaner (until 30 June 2015), Hans Jörg Schlechter, Gregor Wollenek, Eveline Paulus (new since 1 July 2015), Katharina Mares-Schrank (new since 1 July 2015), Marlene Fetz (new since 1 July 2015), Atena Adambegan (new since 1 July 2015) Coordination, Commission 4 Caroline Paar Coordination, Commission 5 Stephanie Krisper (until 30 June 2015) 107

108 polis Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools polis, the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools supports teachers in putting citizenship education into practice at schools. Apart from knowledge transfer activities polis also engages in awareness raising and sensitisation for all issues concerning politics, democracy and human rights. polis works under contract to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs/ Department I/6 (Citizenship Education). The main tasks of polis are, among others: periodical for teachers polis aktuell purchase, publishing and distribution of teaching materials on citizenship education in-service teacher trainings workshops for school classes organisation of events, e.g. Austrian Citizenship Days content management of the dossiers on the web portal Citizenship Education coordination of the Competition for Civic Education (organised by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education) in Austria consultation and support of teachers national and international co-operation in networks such as DARE, EDC, NECE or with the United Nations further projects: Vienna s First Protest Path, Children s Rights and Participation, Engage Country Austria Persons involved Director Patricia Hladschik Staff members Ingrid Ausserer Maria Haupt Dorothea Steurer Elisabeth Turek Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Publication Monthly for teachers polis aktuell, polis edition. Contact Patricia Hladschik patricia.hladschik@univie.ac.at Funded by > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women s Affairs Starting/end date Established in February 2006, contract extended until 2017 Emerged from the Service Centre for Human Rights Education (since 1997 at the BIM) and the Service Centre for Civic Education (since 2002 at the BIM). 108

109 Children s Rights and Participation Developing Indicators for Schools What role do children s rights and participation play in school? The project funded by the Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) was a cooperation of the Human Rights Education team and the Child Rights expert of the BIM. At a Viennese secondary school the researchers, the school s headmaster and teachers as well as students and parents representatives tried to find out by means of participatory research which minimum criteria a child-rights-friendly school has to fulfil. Which indicators do already exist? Which aspects are already realized and which changes are necessary in order to fulfil the criteria of a child-rights-friendly school according to the different stakeholders? The project started with workshops for the students to create a consciousness for children s rights. Focus groups, interviews, questionnaire surveys and a study on indicators were carried out. From the beginning on, the research team was accompanied by a steering group, which included student representatives, teachers and the headmaster. Based on the results at the school site and the analysis of already existing monitoring instruments the research study was put together and a Children s Rights Index was developed. A set of indicators serves as a self-evaluating instrument for an analysis how far a school already fulfils child rights standards. Country Austria Persons involved Project leader Manfred Nowak Researchers Helmut Sax Dorothea Steurer Elisabeth Turek Project assistance Ingrid Ausserer Funded by > > OeNB Anniversary Fund Starting/end date February 2014 to June 2015 (extended until September 2015) Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Publications Sax, Helmut et al.: Kinderrechte-Index in der Schule und Leitfaden für ein partizipatives Kinderrechte-Monitoring in der Schule. Vienna: Zentrum polis, Sax, Helmut: Ein Index für Kinderrechte in der Schule. Studie. Vienna: Zentrum polis, Contact Dorothea Steurer dorothea.steurer@univie.ac.at Elisabeth Turek elisabeth.turek@univie.ac.at 109

110 First Vienna Protest Path The First Vienna Protest Path is a project organised by polis, the Austrian Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools in cooperation with the writer Martin Auer for young people and politically interested individuals who want to experience Vienna from a different perspective. The project highlights past struggles for many rights we enjoy today. It shows how people organised and achieved things and in which ways these struggles and achievements left their mark on the cityscape of Vienna today. Signboards at buildings and locations throughout the city of Vienna commemorate the spots of social movements that are part of the Protest Path. Mobile tags on the signboards allow for school classes as well as passers-by to connect directly to the internet using their smart phone. Hence, the social movement that formed the scene becomes vivid in texts, sounds and images. The users can read about the history of the movement, listen to original recordings or watch photos and videos. All contents of the now fifteen stations are provided on as well. Thus, teachers or educators who want to visit the Protest Path with their students can prepare the excursion in advance. The year 2015 saw the opening of a new station along the busroute 13A, which illustrates the struggle of the independent living movement for accessible public transport. Country Austria Persons involved Project leader Patricia Hladschik Project implementation Martin Auer (author) Ingrid Ausserer Maria Haupt Funded by > > respekt.net > > City of Vienna and various districts of Vienna > > Austrian Federal Ministry of Education > > Culture and the Arts > > Federal Ministry for Women and the Civil Service > > National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism > > GPA-djp > > WUK Lead organisation > > Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Research Association Publication Ausserer, Ingrid / Hladschik, Patricia: First Vienna Protest Path. Manual for teachers and multipliers. Vienna: polis, updated version Contact Patricia Hladschik patricia.hladschik@univie.ac.at Starting/end date Since January 2012 ongoing 110