Working for human rights and peace is a challenging task in the face of global conflicts. This is precisely why the focus on human rights and peace is an indispensable part of the programme, which supports human rights activists and conflict mediators. The topics and areas of work of the fellowship holders who focus on this are diverse and include, for example, advocacy for the rights of women, children and minorities, the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation, or engagement in peace building and conflict resolution. On this page, you will find reports on experiences with the CrossCulture programme as well as concrete insights into the work of fellows and alums.
Since 2023, an additional focus has been placed on the topic of gender & diversity, in which, in particular, women's and minority rights activists as well as researchers and educators in the field of diversity are supported.
Women’s rights are important to me because I don’t want to be treated as a second-class citizen just because of my gender. Women have so much to contribute, but we are still fighting for basic rights which have yet to be granted.
For instance, Iraq does not have a specific law which criminalizes domestic violence; therefore, effective legal responses are hindered. Moreover, the Iraqi Penal Code includes provisions which reduce the sentence of so-called “honour killings” or allow husbands to “discipline” their wives. Additionally, there is a severe underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.
When I was around 14, I was eager to join in discussions about politics with my male relatives, but they dismissed me as this was a “men’s discussion”. However, their reactions made it painfully clear that my voice was considered to be less valuable simply because I was a girl.
Additionally, my passion for basketball was stifled because my mother would first seek my brother’s approval whenever I wanted to practise and used his reservations as a reason to prevent me from participating.
These experiences made me aware of how women and girls are often treated as second-class citizens, with their passions and voices sidelined by outdated norms.
It is a local, community-driven NGO which was established as a response to the atrocities of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)* against Yazidis and other religious minorities in Iraq. I was directly involved in collecting evidence-based information to document the Yazidi genocide by ISIS so as to convict ISIS perpetrators.
One of our core activities is to coach survivors of sexual violence to articulate their experiences effectively, whether in front of international bodies or in legal settings. We also provide protective accompaniment and support them throughout the process. This includes mental health and psychosocial support, livelihood programmes and rehabilitation services.
During my fellowship at the Nuremberg Human Rights Center, I gained profound insights into transitional justice, especially by studying the Nuremberg Trials.
We adapted the principles of balancing accountability with reconciliation to the Yazidi context, advocating for stronger legal frameworks and support systems for survivors. My fellowship experience has enhanced my ability to engage with stakeholders and navigate complex transitional justice issues effectively and provided practical tools and perspectives which inspired meaningful change within my organisation and the broader community.
*In 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) began a genocide against the Yazidis of Sinjar (Iraq). ISIS killed men as well as older women; boys were enslaved as child soldiers, younger women and girls were enslaved and systematically abused. According to the UN, 5,000-10,000 Yazidis were killed and over 7,000 women abducted. To this day, thousands of women are being held captive.
