Find out about our events this year and reserve your tickets here
2020 THEME is RESILIENCE
NOUN: the capacity to recover from difficulties.
Through film, art and talks the 18th Oxford Human Rights Festival shares the voices and stories of resilient individuals. We will celebrate cultures, encourage debates and discussions and have opportunities to develop pathways to strengthen our resilience and thrive.
There has been growing interest in resilience in the academic, humanitarian and environmental sectors. Looking through a resilience lens presents us with an opportunity to observe, measure and assess the ability of individuals and communities to mobilise their own recovery from an exposure to physical or mental setbacks.[1] Resilience is about what action an individual or community is able to take during and after a disaster. In addition, it also asks us to consider the notion of being prepared for setbacks which involves us taking time to understand potential disruptions and then carefully map out how to manage these - many organisations call this 'preparedness' and it can be a helpful tool that we can use in our everyday lives. It is important to remember that resilience is not all about individuals and communities, it is also about the planning and actions that organisations and governments can take to support individuals and communities to be resilient.
The world is going through extraordinary changes. From mass migrations of people, civil society uprisings, environmental changes to the rising mental health challenges of individuals – setbacks and disasters are affecting all of us.
According to UNHCR there are 70.9 million people worldwide that have been forcibly displaced - the numbers account for 43.1 million being internally displaced, 25.9 million refugees (half under the age of 18 years old) and 3.5 million asylum seekers. It is not only the forcibly displaced that suffer stress, research has found that we are all susceptible to mental and physical adversities in our own lives. In the 2013 Global Burden of Disease study stated that “the predominant mental health problem worldwide is depression, followed by anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.”[2] In the UK “in an average classroom, ten children will have witnessed their parents separate, eight will have experienced severe physical violence, sexual abuse or neglect, one will have experienced the death of a parent and seven will have been bullied”.[3] How about disability? “There are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK and life costs you £583 more on average a month if you're disabled.”[4]
As a Festival based in Oxford we acknowledge the poverty stresses in Oxford. 10 of Oxford's 83 neighbourhood areas are among the 20% most deprived areas in England experiencing multiple levels of deprivation, 25% of children in Oxford live below the poverty line[5] and according to Oxford City Councils September 2019 ‘Street counts’ it reported 51 people were sleeping rough on the streets at the time.[6]
All these statistics reflect some of the mental and physical stresses that individuals are facing in the world today but they also lead us to question the structures and policies of organisations, companies, NGOs and governments on their role in the challenges and obstructions that individuals and communities are having to grapple with on a daily basis and in disaster and conflict scenarios.
We are proud to be in the city of Oxford - a City of Sanctuary. We as a city, are part of a movement that has a vision of welcome and promise to be a place of safety for all including people fleeing from violence and persecution. The City of Sanctuary movement in Oxford also celebrates the skills refugees and asylum seekers bring with them and work with partners to provide a platform to help them engage with the city.[7] In 2018 Oxford City and partnering organisations settled 27 refugee families in Oxford under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS).[8]
This Festival invites people to learn about the lives of individuals and communities through listening, reading, observing, questioning and discussing stories of resilience as they visit the exhibition and take part in the festival.
The theme for the 2020 Festival came out of suggestions from the 2019 Oxford Human Rights Festival student committee, CENDEP staff, students and alumni.
[1] Manyena, Machingura, O’Keefe (2019). Disaster Resilience Integrated Framework for Transformation (DRIFT): A new approach to theorising and operationalising resilience. World Development Journal, Elsivier, UK
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fundamental-facts-about-mental-health-2016
[3] https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/mental-health-statistics/
[4] https://www.scope.org.uk/media/disability-facts-figures/
[5] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20131/population/497/poverty_and_deprivation
[6] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20019/homelessness/1294/street_counts_-_how_many_people_are_sleeping_rough
[7] https://oxford.cityofsanctuary.org/
[8] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/796/city_council_successfully_resettles_27_refugee_families_in_oxford
2020 THEME is RESILIENCE
NOUN: the capacity to recover from difficulties.
Through film, art and talks the 18th Oxford Human Rights Festival shares the voices and stories of resilient individuals. We will celebrate cultures, encourage debates and discussions and have opportunities to develop pathways to strengthen our resilience and thrive.
There has been growing interest in resilience in the academic, humanitarian and environmental sectors. Looking through a resilience lens presents us with an opportunity to observe, measure and assess the ability of individuals and communities to mobilise their own recovery from an exposure to physical or mental setbacks.[1] Resilience is about what action an individual or community is able to take during and after a disaster. In addition, it also asks us to consider the notion of being prepared for setbacks which involves us taking time to understand potential disruptions and then carefully map out how to manage these - many organisations call this 'preparedness' and it can be a helpful tool that we can use in our everyday lives. It is important to remember that resilience is not all about individuals and communities, it is also about the planning and actions that organisations and governments can take to support individuals and communities to be resilient.
The world is going through extraordinary changes. From mass migrations of people, civil society uprisings, environmental changes to the rising mental health challenges of individuals – setbacks and disasters are affecting all of us.
According to UNHCR there are 70.9 million people worldwide that have been forcibly displaced - the numbers account for 43.1 million being internally displaced, 25.9 million refugees (half under the age of 18 years old) and 3.5 million asylum seekers. It is not only the forcibly displaced that suffer stress, research has found that we are all susceptible to mental and physical adversities in our own lives. In the 2013 Global Burden of Disease study stated that “the predominant mental health problem worldwide is depression, followed by anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.”[2] In the UK “in an average classroom, ten children will have witnessed their parents separate, eight will have experienced severe physical violence, sexual abuse or neglect, one will have experienced the death of a parent and seven will have been bullied”.[3] How about disability? “There are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK and life costs you £583 more on average a month if you're disabled.”[4]
As a Festival based in Oxford we acknowledge the poverty stresses in Oxford. 10 of Oxford's 83 neighbourhood areas are among the 20% most deprived areas in England experiencing multiple levels of deprivation, 25% of children in Oxford live below the poverty line[5] and according to Oxford City Councils September 2019 ‘Street counts’ it reported 51 people were sleeping rough on the streets at the time.[6]
All these statistics reflect some of the mental and physical stresses that individuals are facing in the world today but they also lead us to question the structures and policies of organisations, companies, NGOs and governments on their role in the challenges and obstructions that individuals and communities are having to grapple with on a daily basis and in disaster and conflict scenarios.
We are proud to be in the city of Oxford - a City of Sanctuary. We as a city, are part of a movement that has a vision of welcome and promise to be a place of safety for all including people fleeing from violence and persecution. The City of Sanctuary movement in Oxford also celebrates the skills refugees and asylum seekers bring with them and work with partners to provide a platform to help them engage with the city.[7] In 2018 Oxford City and partnering organisations settled 27 refugee families in Oxford under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS).[8]
This Festival invites people to learn about the lives of individuals and communities through listening, reading, observing, questioning and discussing stories of resilience as they visit the exhibition and take part in the festival.
The theme for the 2020 Festival came out of suggestions from the 2019 Oxford Human Rights Festival student committee, CENDEP staff, students and alumni.
[1] Manyena, Machingura, O’Keefe (2019). Disaster Resilience Integrated Framework for Transformation (DRIFT): A new approach to theorising and operationalising resilience. World Development Journal, Elsivier, UK
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fundamental-facts-about-mental-health-2016
[3] https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/mental-health-statistics/
[4] https://www.scope.org.uk/media/disability-facts-figures/
[5] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20131/population/497/poverty_and_deprivation
[6] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20019/homelessness/1294/street_counts_-_how_many_people_are_sleeping_rough
[7] https://oxford.cityofsanctuary.org/
[8] https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/796/city_council_successfully_resettles_27_refugee_families_in_oxford
ABOUT OXFORD HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL
OUR AIM is to raise awareness of human rights issues through the arts including informative films, performances, talks, workshops, and exhibitions.
FOUNDED in 2003 the Festival was initiated by Brookes University postgraduate students on the MA in Development and Emergency Practice (DEP) which is supported by the Centre of Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) within the school of Architecture.
THE FESTIVAL IS CURATED AND LED by students and the organising committee which is open to all undergraduates, postgraduates, staff and academics across the university.
FESTIVAL THEMES in the past have included IDENTITY, HOME and ACTIVISM and we have explored what these mean in terms of gender, sexuality, race, ability, class, wealth, religious beliefs, forced migration, homelessness, nationality and much more.
PAST EVENTS. In 2017 Ken Loach opened the OXHRF with a screening of his highly acclaimed film I, Daniel Blake. 2016 Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of equal education activist Malala Yousafzai, spoke at our screening of their film He Named Me Malala.
THE GLASS TANK. The exhibition in The Glass Tank is the centre piece to the Festival and acts as our main public interface during the festival showcasing a permanent exhibition for the entirety of the Festival.
FUNDING. We receive a small bursary for the Festival from Oxford Brookes University Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment (TDE) . The planning committee, students, staff and our festival friends volunteer their time. We often need external sponsorship to supplement the Festival bursary.
WE WELCOME sponsorship and collaborations
OUR AIM is to raise awareness of human rights issues through the arts including informative films, performances, talks, workshops, and exhibitions.
FOUNDED in 2003 the Festival was initiated by Brookes University postgraduate students on the MA in Development and Emergency Practice (DEP) which is supported by the Centre of Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) within the school of Architecture.
THE FESTIVAL IS CURATED AND LED by students and the organising committee which is open to all undergraduates, postgraduates, staff and academics across the university.
FESTIVAL THEMES in the past have included IDENTITY, HOME and ACTIVISM and we have explored what these mean in terms of gender, sexuality, race, ability, class, wealth, religious beliefs, forced migration, homelessness, nationality and much more.
PAST EVENTS. In 2017 Ken Loach opened the OXHRF with a screening of his highly acclaimed film I, Daniel Blake. 2016 Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of equal education activist Malala Yousafzai, spoke at our screening of their film He Named Me Malala.
THE GLASS TANK. The exhibition in The Glass Tank is the centre piece to the Festival and acts as our main public interface during the festival showcasing a permanent exhibition for the entirety of the Festival.
FUNDING. We receive a small bursary for the Festival from Oxford Brookes University Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment (TDE) . The planning committee, students, staff and our festival friends volunteer their time. We often need external sponsorship to supplement the Festival bursary.
WE WELCOME sponsorship and collaborations
Other Human Rights events at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes has a great reputation for hosting and presenting events highlighting the plight of people whose human rights have been violated.
In October the University celebrated Black History Month and in February it is LGBT History Month. More information can be found on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages of the Brookes website. CENDEP presents a weekly programme of Work in Progress Seminars, which showcase the research done in the school and in related institutions. Everyone is welcome and this semester's programme is available on the blog.
Oxford Brookes has a great reputation for hosting and presenting events highlighting the plight of people whose human rights have been violated.
In October the University celebrated Black History Month and in February it is LGBT History Month. More information can be found on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages of the Brookes website. CENDEP presents a weekly programme of Work in Progress Seminars, which showcase the research done in the school and in related institutions. Everyone is welcome and this semester's programme is available on the blog.
Looking back at 2019
The theme of the 17th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival was ACTIVISM and it took place here at Oxford Brookes University from 11th to 15th March 2019. The centrepiece of the festival was the collaborative exhibition in the Glass Tank on LGBTQ+ ACTIVISM, which was co-curated by Jayne Stuart, Chair of Oxford Brookes LGBTQ+ Staff Forum. We were thrilled to welcome acclaimed film director Mike Leigh to headline the festival, answer audience questions about his latest film Peterloo, and talk to Film Studies students. Other highlights included Fair Fashion! Our closing night event in collaboration with the Brookes Union Fashion Society, a talk and screening by Peace One Day founder Jeremy Gilley, and a screening of the documentary Barbara Harrell-Bond: a life not ordinary, with the film maker in conversation.
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Looking back at 2018
The 16th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival took place here at Oxford Brookes University from 12th to 17th March 2018, with the exhibition in the Glass Tank. The theme of the Festival was IDENTITY and we explored this in terms of gender, race, nationality, disability and health, and sexuality. We welcomed artists from around the world and from here in the UK, starting with an explosive set from "advocates for social change disguised as Rock Stars" Delta 7, and also including Tibetan film maker Sonam Anja-Tsang, Syrian Finnish actor Sherwan Haji, a series of talks showcasing research and support here at Brookes around the theme of IDENTITY, and a performance of the powerful play Borderline, a tragi-comedy based in and devised by people who have experience of the Calais Jungle. You can catch up on many of the talks and discussions on our YouTube channel.
The 16th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival took place here at Oxford Brookes University from 12th to 17th March 2018, with the exhibition in the Glass Tank. The theme of the Festival was IDENTITY and we explored this in terms of gender, race, nationality, disability and health, and sexuality. We welcomed artists from around the world and from here in the UK, starting with an explosive set from "advocates for social change disguised as Rock Stars" Delta 7, and also including Tibetan film maker Sonam Anja-Tsang, Syrian Finnish actor Sherwan Haji, a series of talks showcasing research and support here at Brookes around the theme of IDENTITY, and a performance of the powerful play Borderline, a tragi-comedy based in and devised by people who have experience of the Calais Jungle. You can catch up on many of the talks and discussions on our YouTube channel.
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Looking back at 2017
The 15th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival took place here at Oxford Brookes University from 14th to 18th March 2017, with the exhibition in the Glass Tank. As ever, the Festival brought together people of different backgrounds to participate in a culture-packed event. Through a selection of films, art and design, performances, talks and workshops, we aim to raise awareness of a range of human rights issues here in the UK and across the world. The festival is free and open to everyone. The theme of OxHRF2017 was HOME. What does home mean to you? Love? Security? Family? For millions of people across the world home is a fractured concept, somewhere they are fleeing from or fleeing to; somewhere temporary, unwelcoming, unsafe. We will explored this idea of home from the point of view of refugees, indigenous people, homeless people, as well as the students here in Oxford. You can meet the 2017 student committee on our people page and read what they have to say about home, human rights and the Festival on our blog.
Looking back at 2016
This year's Festival was our biggest and most exciting yet. Highlights included the screening of He Named Me Malala with Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai in collaboration with the Brookes Documentary Club, and the screening of Suffragette, presented by the film's Director, Sarah Gavron. We were delighted to introduce the new Director of CENDEP, Cathrine Brun and to welcome back editor of the New Internationalist, Hazel Healy. Student organiser Katie Reilly looks back at the 2016 Festival here in CENDEP News. The centrepiece of the 2016 Festival was Women in Adversity: Contemporary and Traditional Crafts as a Source of Hope and Income, an exhibition of crafts made by women facing daily situations of conflict, poverty and disease. This included embroidered panels from the Palestinian History Tapestry, a project which tells the story of the life and heritage of the indigenous people of Palestine and supports the traditional craft of Palestinian needlewomen.
The 15th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival took place here at Oxford Brookes University from 14th to 18th March 2017, with the exhibition in the Glass Tank. As ever, the Festival brought together people of different backgrounds to participate in a culture-packed event. Through a selection of films, art and design, performances, talks and workshops, we aim to raise awareness of a range of human rights issues here in the UK and across the world. The festival is free and open to everyone. The theme of OxHRF2017 was HOME. What does home mean to you? Love? Security? Family? For millions of people across the world home is a fractured concept, somewhere they are fleeing from or fleeing to; somewhere temporary, unwelcoming, unsafe. We will explored this idea of home from the point of view of refugees, indigenous people, homeless people, as well as the students here in Oxford. You can meet the 2017 student committee on our people page and read what they have to say about home, human rights and the Festival on our blog.
Looking back at 2016
This year's Festival was our biggest and most exciting yet. Highlights included the screening of He Named Me Malala with Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai in collaboration with the Brookes Documentary Club, and the screening of Suffragette, presented by the film's Director, Sarah Gavron. We were delighted to introduce the new Director of CENDEP, Cathrine Brun and to welcome back editor of the New Internationalist, Hazel Healy. Student organiser Katie Reilly looks back at the 2016 Festival here in CENDEP News. The centrepiece of the 2016 Festival was Women in Adversity: Contemporary and Traditional Crafts as a Source of Hope and Income, an exhibition of crafts made by women facing daily situations of conflict, poverty and disease. This included embroidered panels from the Palestinian History Tapestry, a project which tells the story of the life and heritage of the indigenous people of Palestine and supports the traditional craft of Palestinian needlewomen.
Film Studies student Catrin George-Carey meets Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai.
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Development & Emergency Practice student Maria Assaf in the Women in Adversity exhibition.
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Development and Emergency Practice student Alex Miller being interviewed for Oxford TV.
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Oxford Human Rights Festival is supported and hosted by
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