College Launching First Human Rights Course
As Bermuda College prepares to launch a groundbreaking human rights course, one of its international experts is encouraging young Bermudians to see themselves as active participants in building a more just society — both at home and abroad.
Claudia Seymour, a Bermudian academic and human rights investigator who has worked in conflict-affected countries around the world, is among the facilitators supporting the course through the newly launched Human Rights Education Network [HuRen].
“After working as a human rights investigator and protection professional in war-affected countries, I came to realise that the most important work might be the work closest to home,” she said.
“This course is about recognising the dignity and value of every person — and the power each of us has to make a difference in our everyday lives.”
The 12-hour course — open to anyone aged 18 and over — is the first of its kind in Bermuda. It is designed to equip young Bermudians with the foundational skills and mindset needed to understand, protect, and promote human rights locally and globally.
Developed by a team of international and local experts, including former Amnesty International Bermuda Chairperson Françoise Palau-Wolffe, HuRen aims to bridge the gap between global frameworks and Bermuda’s national human rights protections.
Ms Seymour, who lectures at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and has served as a UN advisor, said the course offers vital tools for navigating an increasingly complex world.
“We all have a role in the realisation of human rights. Societal transformations toward justice and dignity for all start with small, daily actions. We have more power than we realise,” she said.
She added that Bermuda has something special to offer when it comes to rights work.
“I have travelled the world, yet Bermuda is unique for the grace and kindness that people offer to each other. This interpersonal respect lays at the foundation of any authentic human rights work.”
The course begins on October 6 and will be hosted through the College’s Athora Division of Professional and Career Education. An open house information session is scheduled for September 15 at Bermuda College.
The programme is limited to 20 participants and includes support from the Human Rights Commission and Gender Affairs Council. Financial assistance is available through the College, and local businesses are encouraged to sponsor employees.
More information is available at www.HuRenBermuda.com or by emailing: apace@college.bm.
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