The School
A powerhouse for Human Rights defender.
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Grace Bryant
Former participant, ed. 2023
14-20 June 2026
The Venice School
The Venice School for Human Rights Defenders is a training programme designed for activists and advocates committed to tackling today’s complex human rights challenges. It seeks to equip participants with practical expertise, strategic tools, and valuable connections to foster transformative action within their communities and to reinforce the global pursuit of human rights and social justice.
Learning Objectives
- Understand
the increasingly complex, interconnected, and often hostile environment where the new generation of activists operates
- Analyse
the root causes of and possible solutions to new complex advocacy environments shaped by rapid technological change, polarized media ecosystems, and shrinking civic space
- Feel part
of a dynamic and empowering space where to critically examine realities
- Balance
conceptual grounding with practical, participatory learning
- Experience
a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intersectional pedagogical approach
- Grow
your global network and join forces with human rights changemakers from across the world
Venue
The School takes place in Venice Lido, at the Monastery of San Nicolò, home to the Global Campus Headquarters. This historic 11th century Benedictine monastery offers a unique setting for the programme.
Off-the-beaten-path, Lido is an 11-km long barrier island facing Venice, at a 15-minute distance by waterbus (vaporetto) from St. Mark’s square. Lido offers sandy beaches, green areas, nature protected oasis; it is famous for being the seat of the Venice Film Festival and for its Art Nouveau villas and grand hotels, such as the Grand Hotel des Bains described in Thomas Mann’s novel “Death in Venice”.
