2025

Oxford Human Rights Festival

14th - 21st March

ABOUT

The Oxford Human Rights Festival is back for its 23rd instalment and we are excited to announce this year’s theme: The Power of the People.

Over the past 20 years this festival has used its platform to shed light on the importance of Human Rights through delivering engaging programmes consisting of films, performances, talks, exhibitions and more.

INFO

The 2025 festival programme has been finalised, with plenty of free events available for all to help generate conversations about human rights. Make sure to keep up to date with the festival through our social media and newsletter to catch all of the latest updates, and click the button below to find out more about the 2025 festival.

THE 2025 FESTIVAL IS HERE!

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Year's Programme!

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CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF THE 2025 EVENTS ON EVENTBRITE

Our closing event 🗣️

Huge thanks to all who took part in our 2025 festival, it was wonderful to interact with so many different organisations and guests. As part of our closing event we decided to do a mural with messages from both committee members and guests. We hope to see you all join us next year for a new theme !

Big thanks to all who came to our screening of Are You Proud? 🏳️‍🌈 and joined in our discussion of the film! (and @lovewomenoxford for leading this discussion!)

Thank you to Ashley Joiner, the director, for joining us!

For more events happening this week remember to check out our eventbrite located in the link in our bio.

Rights in Rhyme: A Night of Human Rights Poetry

Huge thanks to all who attended our poetry event and maybe even shared your poetry with us !📖

For more events happening this week remember to check out our eventbrite located in the link in our bio.

Palestine: Power in Culture 🇵🇸

Thank you to everyone who attended our event exploring the the powerful culture of Palestine!

For more events happening this week remember to check out our eventbrite located in the link in our bio,

Thank you to everyone who attended our crafting event: what does home mean to you?✨

Everyone’s work was so beautiful!

We cannot wait to have it up on display in Westgate, check it out when you can starting from the 17th of March till the 21st.

For more events happening this week remember to check out our eventbrite located in the link in our bio.

Thank you everyone for attending our talk with Alison Killing on Open Source Investigations for Human Rights!

For more events happening this week remember to check out our eventbrite located in the link in our bio.

Reminder to book your tickets through eventbrite and join us!

Join us for a relaxed and inspiring gathering to mark the end of the Oxford Human Rights Festival.

This closing event is an opportunity for allies, advocates, and those interested in human rights and the arts to connect, share ideas, and explore ways to take action. Whether you’ve attended events throughout the festival or are joining for the first time, come meet like-minded people, reflect on key themes, and be part of the ongoing conversation on justice and change.

Refreshments will be provided in a welcoming space for discussion and networking.

🗓️ Friday 21st March
🕣 18:00-20:00
📍 CLC.09, Oxford Brookes University

Join us for a screening of Are You Proud?, a powerful documentary tracing the history of LGBTQIA+ activism in the UK. Through rare archive footage and interviews, the film highlights both past struggles and the ongoing fight for equality. As queer rights face increasing threats worldwide, this screening serves as a vital reminder of the progress made and the need for continued resistance.

A discussion will follow, providing space for reflection and conversation.

🗓️ 20th March
🕣 18:00-20:00
📍 JHB 308 Kennedy, Oxford Brookes University

This panel explores the challenges and resilience of Palestinian education under conflict. Hadil Louz shares her personal experience growing up in Jabalya Refugee Camp, highlighting the perseverance of students and teachers. Awatef Sheikh, CEO of Ajyal Foundation, discusses educide in Gaza and its impact on children’s mental health and learning. Dr. Brigitte Piquard provides insights on resilience in conflict-affected regions. Chaired by Dr. Lili Schwoerer, expert in critical education pedagogies, the discussion examines education as resistance and the urgent need to uphold the right to learn.

🗓️ 21st March
🕣 13:00-14:30
📍CLC 2.18, Oxford Brookes University

How can architecture shape a fairer and more inclusive society? This panel brings together architects using community-led design to drive social change. Speakers Liza Fior (MUF Architecture/Art), Beatrice De Carli (Architects Sans Frontières UK), and Scarlett Barclay (The Disordinary Architecture Project) will share their work on creating accessible, participatory spaces that challenge inequality. Facilitated by Maria Farone, the discussion will explore the role of design in advocating for human rights. Join us for an inspiring conversation, followed by drinks, snacks, and networking.

🗓️ 17th March
🕣 18:00-20:00
📍 AB201, Oxford Brookes Univeristy

This discussion will explore the transformative impact of the Masters in Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding (MA HAP). Co-developed and co-delivered by Oxford Brookes University and UNITAR, MA HAP reinforces the competencies of humanitarian workers and peacebuilders directly from their field operations, employing innovative pedagogical approaches and a commitment to critical thinking.

Drawing on the insights of MA HAP alumni, the panel will explore the tangible impacts of the programme as it adapts to effectively address the evolving needs of affected communities in an ever-changing geo-political and economic landscape. This session also marks the launch of the alumni network, offering fresh perspectives on the future of the Masters degree.

🗓️ 20th March
🕣 14:00-16:00
📍 JBG304, Oxford Brookes University

📣 Our 2025 Programme is now live!

Want to learn more about this years festival? Check out our programme over at our website, you can access this by clicking the link in our bio or searching up Oxford Human Rights Festival in your browser.

We hope you enjoy the events we’ve cultivated for this March, and we hope to see you there!

In collaboration with ActionAid, CENDEP, and Oxfam, join us for a compelling conversation on reimagining justice beyond colonial legacies.

This event brings together a diverse panel of experts to explore how decolonial approaches can transform systems of justice and build community resilience.

Hear from Cecilia Cordova, a Bolivian national with over 20 years of NGO experience focused on women’s and Indigenous rights; Dr. Farah Mihlar, a human rights scholar at CENDEP researching decolonial justice; Clement Amponsah, a DPhil candidate at Oxford and lead researcher on decolonising resilience; and Mateo Adarve Zuluaga from Oxfam, a climate justice researcher dedicated to feminist and decolonial action.

🗓️ 17 March
🕣 12:30-14:00
📍 Oxford Brookes University, JHB202

This year's student led Oxford Human Rights Festival opens with an incredible lecture from CENDEP alumni @alisonkilling!

The event is free and there will be a drinks reception afterwards so do come along if you're around!

🗓️ 14th March
🕣 17:30-19:30
📍 JHB Lecture Theatre, Oxford Brookes University

Walking tour with uncomfortable Oxford!

Embark with us for Uncomfortable Oxford’s thought-provoking walking tour as part of the Oxford Human Rights Festival. This guided experience will uncover the hidden histories of empire, race, class, and gender, the tour will reveal how the struggles of the past continue to shape our society today. Led by expert researchers, this engaging and educational tour invites participants to reflect on the power of the people in challenging injustice and demanding change. Suitable for ages 12 and up.

Scan QR code for tickets and visit OxfordHumanRightsFestival.net for more

🗓️ Sunday 16 March
🕣 10:00-11:30am
📍Carfax Tower, Queen Street, OX1 1ET

This collaborative artwork, created as part of the Oxford Human Rights Festival, brings together voices from the community to explore the meaning of home and highlight the fundamental human right to shelter.

Crafted through a participatory „Craftivist” event, the piece is a testament to the power of creativity in activism, sparking conversations about security, belonging, and displacement.
Displayed at Westgate Shopping Centre, this exhibition invites the public to reflect on the challenges faced by those without a safe place to call home and to consider how we can work towards a more just and compassionate world.

17th March - 21st March
All Day!
📍 West gate, Middle Sq Activation Space

Oxford Human Rights Festival - Call for Participation 📣

We invite individuals from conflict-affected or historically marginalized regions—including those impacted by colonization, uprisings, and struggles for liberation—to share their talents and work celebrating identity, culture, and the ongoing journey of resilience.

How to Submit:
Please submit a brief description or sample of your work by February 10 (may be accepted till Feb 24) to Fatema.mhf@outlook.com. If you are submitting a recording, include where you are from and a short story about yourself. We will then confirm your submission and guide you through the next steps.

✅ Submission Categories:

• Global Submissions: Record a “Better Day” reflecting hope or recovery and leave the editing on us! (feature not guaranteed).

• UK-based Performances: Live music, poetry, dance, or speakers/storytellers.

• Global Artwork: Visual art, videos, and other creative works.

📌 Deadline: Submit by February 10. We’ll confirm your submission and guide you through next steps. Late submissions may be accepted until February 24.

Join us in celebrating resilience and culture!

🎬 We are delighted to be hosting a screening of the film Lyd by acclaimed Palestinian film maker, writer and journalist Rami Younis, and New York based documentary filmmaker and media artist Sarah Ema Friedland as part of the 2025 Oxford Human Rights Festival.

Lyd is the story of a city that once connected Palestine to the world - what it once was, what it is now, and what it could have become. A sci-fi documentary that follows the rise and fall of Lyd - a 5,000 year old metropolis that was once a bustling Palestinian town until it was taken over when the State of Israel was established in 1948. As the film unfolds, a chorus of characters creates a tapestry of the Palestinian experience of this city and the trauma left by the violent expulsion.

This screening will offer attendees the chance to take part in an exclusive Q&A session with the directors themselves, and all donations will go towards supporting the Oxford Brookes Gaza Scholarship.

When & Where?
🗓️19th March 2025
⏰ 6:00-8:00pm
📍 Oxford Brookes, JHB Lecture Theatre

Join us for “Rights in Rhyme: A Night of Human Rights Poetry”, an evening of powerful poetry and shared voices at The Oxford Blue. Hosted by CENDEP.

This event invites students, activists, and community members to come together and share original or favourite poems focused on human rights, justice, and social change. Whether you’re performing or just listening, the night will be a celebration of creative expression, amplifying voices on issues like equality, freedom, and dignity.

Bring your passion, your words, and join us in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere as we inspire one another toward a more just world.

MARCH 18th
📍 Oxford Blue, Oxford
⏱️ Starts 7pm

Join us for a Craftivist event in Oxford, where activism meets creativity! Craftivism uses the power of handmade crafts to raise awareness of social, political, and environmental issues.

Whether you’re experienced with crafting or a complete beginner, come along to create thoughtful, handmade pieces that inspire change and spark conversations. Together, we’ll use crafts like embroidery, knitting, and more to peacefully advocate for important causes in a meaningful and artistic way.

‼️ All materials will be provided, and everyone is welcome to join in!

MARCH 15TH
📍 Old Fire Station, Oxford
⏱️ 12:00-4pm

Meet some of the team for our 2025 Human Rights Festival and learn why everyone joined the committee 📣

‼️ Check out our other posts and our website to keep up to date with the festival as it further forms together.

The documentary, 11,103, highlights survivor stories of state-sponsored violence during the Martial Law years under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Candy Gourlay, a journalist who experienced the dictatorship firsthand and covered its collapse in 1986. Gain insights into this dark period of history and learn about the landmark law that officially recognized the atrocities, mandating compensation for victims, funded by the Marcoses’ hidden wealth. Candy, a talented author whose works shed light on historical injustices, will share her perspective and engage in dialogue about the film’s themes. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into a crucial chapter of Philippine history and explore its implications for human rights today.

What is the role of human rights in shaping humanitarian response? Join us for a compelling seminar titled “Human Rights in Humanitarianism,” led by Vittorio Infante, a seasoned humanitarian and human rights policy analyst with extensive experience in global civil society. Drawing on his decades of work with organizations like Oxfam, Amnesty International, and ActionAid, Vittorio will explore the intricate relationship between human rights principles and humanitarian action. Light lunch provided.

In “The Old Oak,” witness the struggles of a resilient mining community facing unexpected challenges when Syrian refugees arrive in their village, sparking tensions and forging unlikely connections between the locals and newcomers, portrayed in a deeply moving drama about fragility, hope, and the power of understanding. Join us for a screening of this moving film, followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from Oxford organizations dedicated to refugee integration, as we ask the question, how can we stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers in our community?

Oxford Against Cutting (OAC) is a local charity that tackles harmful practices such as FGM and forced marriage, as well as issues of abuse, feelings of shame, and community pressures that can affect girls and women from minoritised communities. During this seminar, OAC will share two short films from their True Izzat series (“izzat” meaning “honour”). The first focuses on the issues of conception, specifically the pressures put on South Asian women to have children and the shame that women can feel if they are unable to conceive. The seminar will be led by Sobia Afridi (Specialist Facilitator) and Kate Agha (CEO) who have experienced living with infertility in South Asian communities. Sobia is a mum of two children, whom she and her husband adopted after 10 years of failed IVF treatments, and will talk about the stigma she felt in her community and the impacts this had on her mental wellbeing.

The second film will focus on Cousin Marriage and Genetic Conditions. In this film we hear from Sobia and her daughter, Sabrena. Sabrena was born with thalassemia, a rare blood condition, due to her parents being first cousins. Sabrena speaks on the impact that this has on her day to day life and encourages anyone who is thinking of marrying their first cousin to get tested to check that they are not carrying a gene which could lead to a life changing genetic condition like hers. Sabrena is studying Psychology in her second year. She was born in Karachi and came to England in 2004, after her parents adopted her from an orphanage when she was only a few days old. Sabrena is proud to be a Young Champion and Volunteer for OAC and loved being involved in the True Izzat film about genetic conditions.

This award-winning documentary investigates how forced migrants from Syria were sheltered across Europe and the Middle East, ending up in mega-camps, city squats, occupied airports, illegal settlements, requisitioned buildings, at-pack structures, and enormous architect- designed reception centres. Based on innovative research at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre, the film Shelter Without Shelter offers new insights into a universal human experience. We all need shelter, but what is it? The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.

CENDEP works with communities affected by crisis, and its research is about understanding these contexts and what can be done to further the rights and resilience of those affected. This seminar talk will highlight work and findings of the CENDEP research team on themes such as ‘inclusive and resilient response’; ‘refugee protection and human rights’; ‘conflict and humanitarianism’ and ‘homes and communities’ in crisis contexts. Light lunch provided.

Join us for an illuminating exhibition and discussion exploring the intersectionality of Black expression through art and music, and an investigation into how both can enrich our understanding of African-American history. The evening offers an opportunity to view the full exhibition featuring works from the Wes and Missy Cochran collection of African American art on paper and the Paul Oliver archive of African American music and photographs, hear a presentation from Oxford Brookes’ Sarah Grimwood, engage in a Q&A session with the curator and Columbus State University lecturer/students, and enjoy some refreshments.

Explore the complexities of the human rights landscape in Palestine through our panel discussion, “Human Rights in Palestine: Solidarity Across Borders.” Our panelists will explore the human rights situation in Palestine and discuss practical strategies for fostering solidarity from communities beyond borders. Gain insights into the challenges faced by Palestinians and learn how individuals and groups in Oxford can stand in solidarity to advocate for human rights in Palestine. Light lunch provided.

Join us for a poignant film screening and discussion at as we delve into the Pulitzer Prize winning documentary which follows a team of Ukrainian journalists in Mariupol, trapped amidst the chaos of the Russian invasion, as they bravely document the harrowing atrocities of war. Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov offers a raw and powerful portrayal of civilians caught in the siege, shedding light on the vital role of journalism in conflict zones and its global impact.

What are the barriers to food justice in Oxford? Who bears responsibility for tackling hunger on our doorstep? Oxford Mutual Aid will be leading an engaging discussion on the concept of food as a human right, investigating why there is a huge step to take between a belief that no one should go hungry, and the practice of ensuring that food injustice is brought to an end. There will a presentation, time for discussion and time for questions as we work collaboratively to tackle the issue of food injustice. Light lunch provided.

Giving the annual Nabeel Hamdi lecture, Olwethu Nkala Jack is an architectural designer and community engagement specialist, join us for an enlightening talk on designing for spatial justice, and his decade-long journey in fostering positive change within communities in South Africa. Gain valuable perspectives on the intersection of design and human rights, and learn about Olwethu’s ongoing pursuit of change through his studies in Urban Planning.

Meet Ellen Shaw another volunteer on our committee! “I hope to gain knowledge to surround human rights and help share knowledge and raise awareness. Im also hoping to learn from others and meet amazing people and by helping support this festival maybe inspire others to want to do the same”.

Introducing another committee member! Carine Fan
Role: Volunteer
“ Human right is everything in our lives. It is a right everyone should have when we born.”

We would love to introduce you all to Ryan!
Role: volunteer social media and marketing coordinator.
“Human rights are very important, equality is a hard thing to achieve. There are many obstacles in our path that we can overcome, by educating ourselves on injustices and how we all can do our part to help.”

We would love you all to meet, Jack Winzer. His role in the Oxford Human Rights Festival is to take the lead on finding new opportunities to spread the word about the festival. “Human rights links to my general belief on how significant it is for human beings to be unified in having the right to life and liberty. This includes freedom of opinion and expression, from slavery and torture and many more no matter what minority you find yourself in.”

Hello everyone! meet Io Carpiso!
Role: Volunteer Organizer
Despite their “universality”, human rights still remain as something to be defended, protected, and honoured. With the continued injustices and violence around the world, they need to be pushed forward because the worth of one life is equal to any, actually, despite everything you’ve heard. There is no equality if equality is not for all. Makibaka!

What do Human Rights mean to you? What do they look like? What barriers would you break if you could? What bridges would you build? If you had a platform, what would you say?

We invite you to tell your story, in whatever way you would like. As part of this year’s Oxford Human Rights Festival we want to gather perspectives from our diverse community and showcase these through a zine and exhibition. More info and submission page in bio. Deadline 16th February.

📣 Calling all creatives involved in human rights, there is still time to collaborate with us for the 2024 Oxford Human Rights Festival!

Are you a filmmaker, performer or artist involved in promoting human rights? We are finalising our programme of events for this year’s festival and we might have room for you! Get in touch at OxHRF@brookes.ac.uk.

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