Contra el genocidi i contra la violació dels drets humans, a Gaza i arreu del món

Peace comes when you talk to the person you most hate. And that’s where the courage of a leader comes. 

Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), first recipient of an honorary doctorate from UPF

These words, spoken by Desmond Tutu, the first person ever to be awarded an honorary doctorate by UPF, are more applicable today than ever. The UPF condemns, and will always condemn, the use of violence to settle disputes. At UPF, we advocate approaching political or territorial conflicts based on dialogue and respect for all peoples and minorities.  

As a university, we also want to show our support to the academic community in countries at war. Universities and scientific institutions are more necessary than ever in these regions. Access to education and the promotion of critical thinking, in the context of strong independent institutions, are the way to ensure the informed debate and reflection that can open the door to new avenues for finding solutions.

At UPF, we are aware of the university community’s concern for the human rights violations we are seeing in the conflicts around us. That is why on this website you will find information about campaigns and actions related to current conflicts, as well as opinion pieces and institutional statements. We also offer a dedicated e-mail address – [email protected] – to contact the university and let us know about your interests and concerns.

UPF’s EUTOPIA project has obtained a grant of 5 million euros from the Erasmus+ “European Universities” programme

UPF’s EUTOPIA project has obtained a grant of 5 million euros from the Erasmus+ “European Universities” programme

The initiative is one of the 17 chosen throughout Europe under the new “European Universities Initiative” competitive call, launched by the European Commission in order to build a European Education Area

26.06.2019

Imatge inicial - Group photo of the members of the network

EUTOPIA is an alliance of six leading European universities with the aim of creating a connected, inclusive community that, through collaborative research, greater student and teacher mobility and shared innovations among, others, seeks to address local and global challenges ultimately contributing to creating a new model for higher education in Europe.

The network, consisting of the universities of Paris Seine, Brussels Vrije, Warwick, Ljubljana, Gothenburg and UPF, includes a total of over 165,000 students, 30,000 staff and research centres in 760 areas of knowledge.

The selection involves a grant of 5 million euros to develop joint projects.

In February 2019, EUTOPIA presented its candidacy to the call of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ “European Universities” programme, and it has been chosen as one of the 17 winning projects. The selection involves a grant of 5 million euros to develop joint projects. The total budget of the programme amounts to 85 million euros in a call that has involved the participation of about 60 projects and more than 300 higher education institutions. For Jaume Casals, UPF rector, the project is “a great opportunity to eradicate local and external, mental and material, bureaucratic and academic university barriers in Europe”.

The success of obtaining the call will help develop some of the projects being created since the start of the alliance, including doctoral scholarships in co-tutorship, new joint master’s degree programs, summer schools, new academic mobility programmes and academic workshops at partner institutions.

> Press release prepared by the eutopia network (pdf document)

Generalitat de Catalunya
 

Catalan government 

Catalan development cooperation aims to help prevent and respond to emergency situations. This page explains how you can collaborate on the provision of foreign aid both in general and to specific regions.  

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European Commission

Through cooperation and assistance programmes, the European Commission offers humanitarian aid and coordinates efforts with other international actors to promote peace and stability in war-torn regions. 

More information


 

Oxfam Intermón

Oxfam Intermón works in 90 countries. They have launched a fundraising campaign, which is more necessary than ever, given the magnitude of today’s wars. The NGO is also sponsoring a campaign to collect signatures to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Visit the website

Médicos sin fronteras
 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a medical-humanitarian action organization that provides assistance in 70 countries to people threatened by armed conflicts, violence, epidemics or neglected diseases, natural disasters and exclusion from medical care. They have also promoted a campaign to collect signatures to ask for a ceasefire in Gaza.

More information

Creu Roja

Red Cross

The Red Cross also provides emergency humanitarian aid in regions in crisis. 

More information

Clínica Jurídica
 

Legal Clinic 

The UPF Legal Clinic regularly holds talks and roundtables on the protection of human rights in crisis regions.

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Biblioteques sense fronteres
 

Libraries Without Borders

The Libraries Without Borders programme, sponsored by the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency (ACCD), offers Catalan public library patrons knowledge and insight into situations of human rights violations and provides resources to take action. 

More information

logo cara
 

Council for At-Risk Academics

The Council for At-Risk Academics, in partnership with universities and higher education institutions, provides urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks. 

Visit the website