We look back on an eventful year 2025 that was marked by major changes, shared successes, as well as scientific and personnel developments.
Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”
A special milestone was the funding approval for the DFG Cluster of Excellence ‘Transforming Human Rights,’ which represents a decisive step forward for the further development of human rights research at FAU.
All information about the Cluster of Excellence can be found here.
#HumanRightsFAU
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU CHREN) invited students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers to share their personal perspectives on human rights.
FAU Human Rights Award
This year, the FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg Human Rights Award was once again presented, this time to the Chinese legal scholar, activist, and former Professor Xu Zhangrun 许章润.
Seasonal Schools
As in previous years, our Seasonal Schools are a special highlight for students and early-career researchers.
Lectures
Lectures by renowned experts such as Prof. Dr. Peer Zumbansen, Prof. Dr. Kathryn Sikkink, and Dunja Mijatović were also among the highlights. We are already looking forward to welcoming various experts to FAU CHREN again next year.
Events
The year 2025 was marked by a diverse academic program: conferences, book presentations, and moot courts once again brought together scholars and practitioners from various disciplines and institutions. At the same time, welcoming and farewells were closely linked—from the opening and closing ceremonies of the M.A. Human Rights program to the final conference of the IDP BHR.
Event series
Once again this year, CHREN offered a series of events that fostered and enriched academic exchange.
Podcast
In past episodes, we have explored current issues together with international experts from a wide range of fields—such as political science and law. Topics discussed included, among others, torture, the climate crisis, migration, and poverty in the context of human rights.
Persons
Last but not least, 2025 was also a year of personnel changes: We congratulate Dr. Janina Heaphy on her role as Board Member and Senior Research Fellow at FAU CHREN. We also warmly welcome Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo, who began this year as a Visiting Research Fellow.
We remember Prof. Dr. Michael Krennerich, who, as a founding member of FAU CHREN, an outstanding scholar, and a dedicated university teacher, significantly shaped human rights research at FAU and whose influence extends far beyond the institute.
We would like to thank everyone who accompanied, supported, and helped shape FAU CHREN over the past year, and wish you all a relaxing holiday season and a good start to the new year 2026 ❄️
We look back on an eventful year 2025 that was marked by major changes, shared successes, as well as scientific and personnel developments.
Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”
A special milestone was the funding approval for the DFG Cluster of Excellence ‘Transforming Human Rights,’ which represents a decisive step forward for the further development of human rights research at FAU.
All information about the Cluster of Excellence can be found here.
#HumanRightsFAU
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU CHREN) invited students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers to share their personal perspectives on human rights.
FAU Human Rights Award
This year, the FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg Human Rights Award was once again presented, this time to the Chinese legal scholar, activist, and former Professor Xu Zhangrun 许章润.
Seasonal Schools
As in previous years, our Seasonal Schools are a special highlight for students and early-career researchers.
Die Geodata for Human Rights Winter School
International Summer School zu “Corporate Accountability and Climate Justice“
Lectures
Lectures by renowned experts such as Prof. Dr. Peer Zumbansen, Prof. Dr. Kathryn Sikkink, and Dunja Mijatović were also among the highlights. We are already looking forward to welcoming various experts to FAU CHREN again next year.
Events
The year 2025 was marked by a diverse academic program: conferences, book presentations, and moot courts once again brought together scholars and practitioners from various disciplines and institutions. At the same time, welcoming and farewells were closely linked—from the opening and closing ceremonies of the M.A. Human Rights program to the final conference of the IDP BHR.
Event series
Once again this year, CHREN offered a series of events that fostered and enriched academic exchange.
Podcast
In past episodes, we have explored current issues together with international experts from a wide range of fields—such as political science and law. Topics discussed included, among others, torture, the climate crisis, migration, and poverty in the context of human rights.
Persons
Last but not least, 2025 was also a year of personnel changes: We congratulate Dr. Janina Heaphy on her role as Board Member and Senior Research Fellow at FAU CHREN. We also warmly welcome Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo, who began this year as a Visiting Research Fellow.
We remember Prof. Dr. Michael Krennerich, who, as a founding member of FAU CHREN, an outstanding scholar, and a dedicated university teacher, significantly shaped human rights research at FAU and whose influence extends far beyond the institute.
We would like to thank everyone who accompanied, supported, and helped shape FAU CHREN over the past year, and wish you all a relaxing holiday season and a good start to the new year 2026 ❄️