Every year the Centre of Development and Emergency Practice invite students and staff from all disciplines to join the planning committee. The committee meet regularly to plan and bring together the Oxford Human Rights Festival which is open to the public. Each year the festival focuses around a theme and draws on academia and the arts to plan exhibitions, talks and workshops.
2020 Planning Committee
Angella Nkurunziza
I am a fourth year student of architecture at Oxford Brookes University from Uganda. I specialise in the Development and Emergency Practice unit and heard about the Human Rights Festival from one of my lecturers. I joined the festival because I am passionate about helping the less fortunate and would like to build a world based on the foundations of peace and love rather than war and hate.
I am a fourth year student of architecture at Oxford Brookes University from Uganda. I specialise in the Development and Emergency Practice unit and heard about the Human Rights Festival from one of my lecturers. I joined the festival because I am passionate about helping the less fortunate and would like to build a world based on the foundations of peace and love rather than war and hate.
Basma El Doukhi
I am currently a Master student of Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) at Oxford Brookes University and believe that changes in one life can lead to a change in the world. I like to be the voice of the voiceless and to inspire people through actions and kindness. I am a Chevening scholar for 2019/2020 and a Rebecca Dyknes award holder from UK embassy in Lebanon. Before starting my Masters at Oxford Brookes University I worked as protection and community based humanitarian and development professional with UNHCR, UNRWA and many international NGOs in Lebanon and Syria. I have been actively involved in humanitarian and development work with refugees and asylum seekers for the past ten years including working on topics in relation to sexual and gender based violence, child protection, prevention and response activities and community outreach and mobilization support programs including advocacy.
I enjoy delivering sessions and panels about forced displacement, migration and refugee protection to universities, students and many other actors. As a Cumberland Lodge Scholar (2019-2020) I am also undertaking the Emerging International leaders Programme alongside being a young emerging leader in the Women for Future leaders Programme. I am dedicated and passionate about interfaith relations and refugee protection including humanitarian work, rights advocacy and campaigning including working with women and youth, and community development and outreach. I am an avid reader, passionate about food, and loves learning about new people and travelling.
I am currently a Master student of Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) at Oxford Brookes University and believe that changes in one life can lead to a change in the world. I like to be the voice of the voiceless and to inspire people through actions and kindness. I am a Chevening scholar for 2019/2020 and a Rebecca Dyknes award holder from UK embassy in Lebanon. Before starting my Masters at Oxford Brookes University I worked as protection and community based humanitarian and development professional with UNHCR, UNRWA and many international NGOs in Lebanon and Syria. I have been actively involved in humanitarian and development work with refugees and asylum seekers for the past ten years including working on topics in relation to sexual and gender based violence, child protection, prevention and response activities and community outreach and mobilization support programs including advocacy.
I enjoy delivering sessions and panels about forced displacement, migration and refugee protection to universities, students and many other actors. As a Cumberland Lodge Scholar (2019-2020) I am also undertaking the Emerging International leaders Programme alongside being a young emerging leader in the Women for Future leaders Programme. I am dedicated and passionate about interfaith relations and refugee protection including humanitarian work, rights advocacy and campaigning including working with women and youth, and community development and outreach. I am an avid reader, passionate about food, and loves learning about new people and travelling.
Eleni Xenophontos
I am a Cypriot, Architecture master's student specialised in Development and Emergency Practice. Through my course I was taught the values of our profession and the values of human beings and resilience itself. The value of human life is an important element of architecture, and of every profession and an architect should be ethical and act responsibly through his designs considering the ‘neighbours’ and the context of site. Thus, a good architect should be biased against any member of the society therefore human rights, an area of which I am really interested in.
I am a Cypriot, Architecture master's student specialised in Development and Emergency Practice. Through my course I was taught the values of our profession and the values of human beings and resilience itself. The value of human life is an important element of architecture, and of every profession and an architect should be ethical and act responsibly through his designs considering the ‘neighbours’ and the context of site. Thus, a good architect should be biased against any member of the society therefore human rights, an area of which I am really interested in.
Geena Whiteman
My name is Geena Whiteman, and I am a research assistant here at Oxford Brookes University in the Centre for Business, Society and Global Challenges. Most of my work has been in the Balkans, and my research focuses on post-conflict reconstruction and development, particularly how young people are rebuilding their futures under economic transition. My interest in human rights stems from my academic background in
development economics, and fascination with the way private sector interventions can either alleviate or accentuate human rights abuses, dependent upon the motivations of the business.
My name is Geena Whiteman, and I am a research assistant here at Oxford Brookes University in the Centre for Business, Society and Global Challenges. Most of my work has been in the Balkans, and my research focuses on post-conflict reconstruction and development, particularly how young people are rebuilding their futures under economic transition. My interest in human rights stems from my academic background in
development economics, and fascination with the way private sector interventions can either alleviate or accentuate human rights abuses, dependent upon the motivations of the business.
Harikrishnan Premprakash
I’m a 26 year old Sustainable Architecture student. I moved to Oxford from Adelaide, Australia which was my home for 8 years. I am originally hail from India and my passion lies in using sustainable, ethical and moral architecture to solve problems around the world. I became passionate about human rights during my years in University in Australia after studying the plight of the Indigenous population there. Resilience is a non-violent and powerful act in the face of adversity and the Oxford Human Rights Festival is going to celebrate the resilience of millions of persecuted communities around the world and I am proud to be part of it.
I’m a 26 year old Sustainable Architecture student. I moved to Oxford from Adelaide, Australia which was my home for 8 years. I am originally hail from India and my passion lies in using sustainable, ethical and moral architecture to solve problems around the world. I became passionate about human rights during my years in University in Australia after studying the plight of the Indigenous population there. Resilience is a non-violent and powerful act in the face of adversity and the Oxford Human Rights Festival is going to celebrate the resilience of millions of persecuted communities around the world and I am proud to be part of it.
Hauwa Suleiman
I am an interior designer by practice from Nigeria. I hold a degree in Economics & I'm currently studying a Masters in Development & Emergency Practice. I love writing, travelling & landscape photography. My area of interest is in policy, disasters, human rights and sustainability. I enjoy volunteering and organising charity events to educate & empower. My absolute goal in life is for this world to be a place with zero wars where peace reigns. I am on a mission to achieve this, one dialogue at a time until we are all speaking up and listening to each other!
I am an interior designer by practice from Nigeria. I hold a degree in Economics & I'm currently studying a Masters in Development & Emergency Practice. I love writing, travelling & landscape photography. My area of interest is in policy, disasters, human rights and sustainability. I enjoy volunteering and organising charity events to educate & empower. My absolute goal in life is for this world to be a place with zero wars where peace reigns. I am on a mission to achieve this, one dialogue at a time until we are all speaking up and listening to each other!
Lucie Dick
I am currently undertaking my master’s in architecture, specialising in Development and Emergency Practice, with a key interest in conflict areas. My interests in these areas have grown since starting at Oxford Brookes, working alongside my cohort, I realise so much about the troubles in conflict in the world are hidden by the media. Human rights are being breached every day and it goes un-noticed by so many.
Within the festival I am working on a disability panel debate for next years festival. Disabled people are resilient in many ways. Suffering previously myself, from ill health, I notice how many little tasks can take your full energy to do, and the design of the world we are in, is not functional to assist. I have also been a lead on running the pub quiz event, as I think it is a fun way to engage many younger people in the issues in the world around us, without the topics being too heavy.
I am currently undertaking my master’s in architecture, specialising in Development and Emergency Practice, with a key interest in conflict areas. My interests in these areas have grown since starting at Oxford Brookes, working alongside my cohort, I realise so much about the troubles in conflict in the world are hidden by the media. Human rights are being breached every day and it goes un-noticed by so many.
Within the festival I am working on a disability panel debate for next years festival. Disabled people are resilient in many ways. Suffering previously myself, from ill health, I notice how many little tasks can take your full energy to do, and the design of the world we are in, is not functional to assist. I have also been a lead on running the pub quiz event, as I think it is a fun way to engage many younger people in the issues in the world around us, without the topics being too heavy.
Peter Smith
I am currently studying MSc Marketing and Brand Management focusing on how consumers identify authenticity within brands and products that they ethically identify with. I previously studied Media and Cultural Studies at the UWE in Bristol, which gave me the opportunity to explore new cultures and media techniques which eventually lead me to marketing.
Witnessing how the media and news gloss over human rights violations and issues around the globe helped push me into taking part in organising the Oxford Human Rights Festival. My role is to help market the events to as many people as possible to raise the vital awareness needed.
I am currently studying MSc Marketing and Brand Management focusing on how consumers identify authenticity within brands and products that they ethically identify with. I previously studied Media and Cultural Studies at the UWE in Bristol, which gave me the opportunity to explore new cultures and media techniques which eventually lead me to marketing.
Witnessing how the media and news gloss over human rights violations and issues around the globe helped push me into taking part in organising the Oxford Human Rights Festival. My role is to help market the events to as many people as possible to raise the vital awareness needed.
Terry Cabrey
I am a third year Film student at Oxford Brookes University. My interest in human rights stems from my anger at all the injustice we see and hear happening around the world daily. I first became involved with the Oxford Brookes Human Rights Festival after hearing about it in class and I was interested in helping out whatever way I could.
I am a third year Film student at Oxford Brookes University. My interest in human rights stems from my anger at all the injustice we see and hear happening around the world daily. I first became involved with the Oxford Brookes Human Rights Festival after hearing about it in class and I was interested in helping out whatever way I could.