Henok Ashagrey, a passionate Doctoral student and Tutor for the LLM/MPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) program at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, had an amazing opportunity to participate in a cutting-edge workshop titled 'Humour and Human Rights: Humour, a less explored tool to advance human rights.' 

This event, organised by the Human Rights Centre at the University of Padova and the Global Campus of Human Rights, took place in Padova, Italy, from 15th to 16th June 2023.

Joined by a diverse group of 17 individuals, including human rights advocates, academics, practitioners, clowns, and cartoonists, the workshop delved into the intriguing connections between humour and human rights. The participants engaged in stimulating discussions on various topics, such as the potential of humour as an effective tool to advance human rights, the ethical use of humour in relation to human rights, leveraging humour for education and communication, and the barriers and challenges faced in utilising humour in these contexts.

Throughout the workshop, the participants explored how humour can simplify complex issues, foster empathy, challenge dominant narratives, promote inclusivity, and dismantle power structures that perpetuate inequalities. It was an inspiring and enlightening experience showcasing humour's immense potential in advancing human rights causes.

#HumourAndHumanRights #InclusiveActivism #ChallengingDominantNarratives