The Oxford Human Rights Festival raises awareness of human rights through film screenings, poetry, music, theatre, talks, workshops, and exhibitions. Postgraduates and staff at the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) founded the festival in 2003. Based within the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, CENDEP continues to host the event today.
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An organising committee of students, staff, academics, and Oxford residents plans and delivers the festival. We collaborate with local groups, schools, NGOs, and international organisations to create engaging programmes.
Each year, the student-led committee selects a central theme. Past themes include Resilience, Identity, Home, Movement, and NOW WHAT? These events have featured prominent speakers such as Scilla Elworthy, Ken Loach, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and Yasmeen Lari. Our exhibitions have showcased artists addressing displacement, belonging, and resistance.
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The theme for 2026 is Breaking Free. We will explore freedom across generations, discrimination, gaps in human rights protection, and the impact of budget cuts in the humanitarian sector. These topics allow us to examine human rights through the lenses of gender, race, ability, class, and migration.
The Oxford Brookes University Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment (TDE) provides a small bursary. We rely on the voluntary contributions of our committee and friends. We welcome grants and donations to support our funding and mission.
The Oxford Human Rights Festival is organised by the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP). Based within the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, CENDEP is a world renowned center for studies in disaster management, humanitarian action, and human rights. We are highlighting the MA in Global Development and Humanitarian Practice (GDHP). This face to face program equips you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to address global challenges and humanitarian crises.
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If you are passionate about the issues raised during this festival, consider advancing your career with the GDHP program. You will join an active community of practitioners and researchers dedicated to making an impact.
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Visit the GDHP website to learn more about the course and how to apply.
