In 1991, Rights and Humanity encouraged and supported the establishment of the Jagiellonian University Human Rights Centre, one of the first human rights centres to be established in Central Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 opened up the opportunities of working directly with partners in Eastern and Central Europe. By 1991, Rights and Humanity had forged a partnership with the Jagiellonian University. We brought in two academic partners: the Human Rights Centre, Essex University, UK, and the Institute of International law, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.

With funding from the European Union’s TEMPUS programme we provided:

• infrastructural support for the establishment of the Centre including the provision of funds to cover office costs and equipment
• provision of books and other materials for the establishment of a human rights library including copies of our videos and other teaching aids
• staff training in administration, fund raising, financial control and networking
• training of academic staff to provide the Centre’s pro bono services.

The Centre was formally recognised by the University in 1993. It offers public education in human rights, provides pro bono advice and services to those in need, and encourages observance of international human rights standards.

Developing Democracy and Civil Society in Eastern Europe
Part of Rights and Humanity’s aim was to assist in the development of democracy and civil society by increasing the capacity for:
a) research and analysis concerning the protection of human rights and the application of democratic principles in Poland
b) education in human rights and responsibilities.

Staff Training

• In 1992, we hosted a course in London for lecturers from a variety of disciplines including medicine, law, pedagogy, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology. This course in human rights theory and practice assisted the faculty members to integrate human rights education into the teaching within their own specific academic discipline. We trained a core group of 18 academic staff leading to the teaching of human rights in several disciplines.
• In 1994, we ran a training and networking session in London for administrative support staff of the Centre. This included introductions to the UK-based NGO community, particularly organisations working on minority rights. It encouraged our Polish colleagues to support the establishment of civil society organisations in Poland.

In April 1995, we ran a further training seminar in Krakow which:

• strengthened the capacity of our Jagiellonian colleagues for teaching human rights in Poland by enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the conceptual and practical complexities
• led to exchange of views of various techniques for teaching human rights and
• provided our help in developing appropriate curricula and teaching materials.

Rights and Humanity brought together a panel of experienced human rights teachers and practitioners from several continents. In addition to the academic course, we held an open workshop on setting up and managing a civil society organisation and in raising the necessary funds.

Supporting Development of Polish Civil Society
We also met with a number of established civil society organisations and shared our experience with them. These included:

• Children’s Letter to the World Foundation
• International Centre for Development of Democracy Foundation
• the Salesian Movement for Youth Care (Concern for Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation)
• Women’s Crisis Intervention Centre in Krakow.

The latter wished to raise public awareness about the rights of women to be protected from corporal control in the family, but had no existing contact with similar groups in Europe. We provided it with materials and contacts.

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