The Centre of Governance and Human Rights, launched in late 2009, draws together experts, practitioners and policymakers from Cambridge University and far beyond to think critically and innovatively about pressing governance and human rights issues throughout the world. With a special focus on Africa, the Centre aims to be a world-class interdisciplinary hub for fresh thinking, collaborative research and improving practice.
CGHR organises a range of research seminars and public events throughout the year, tied to our emerging research priorities. In the coming years, the Centre will focus its efforts on core themes of interest that leverage Cambridge's unique research strengths. Read more about our research, including our monthly research group meetings and about the Centre.
ExPRESSion RePRESSion: International efforts to protect journalists at risk
Why are journalists finding it even more difficult to perform their job in the modern age of information dissemination? In what ways are they repressed or targeted in their work? What is the role of the state in impunity for the perpetrators of violence against journalists? And how can we stop this?
These questions were discussed in a public event organised by CGHR.
Expert panel:
- Christof Heyns, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
- Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, African Commission on Human and People's Rights
- Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Joel Simon, Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
- Celia Davies, former Cambridge graduate and Program Development Manager at Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, Azerbaijan
- Moderator: William Horsely, former BBC correspondent and UK Chairman, Association of European Journalists
- Chair: Sharath Srinivasan, Director, Centre of Governance and Human Rights
Video from the panel discussion
CGHR launches 'Africa's Voices' interactive radio and public opinion research project
In the next phase of the research project on New communication technologies and citizen-led governance in Africa, CGHR has launched Africa's Voices - a new project in collaboration with FrontlineSMS:Radio aiming to compare citizens' views on public issues in locations across Africa, while also strengthening local radio stations. 'Africa’s Voices' aims to enhance citizen-based continental dialogue, building upon the existing enthusiasm for interactive radio. CGHR and partners will collect views on priority topics from across the continent and provide independent analysis, offering engaging material for innovative radio programmes that put local communities’ views in a continental perspective. Africa's Voices aims to be a major collaborative platform for enriching debate, discussion and knowledge on Africa’s public opinions. Read More
CGHR Research Group Call for Papers 2011-12
We are now looking to confirm presenters for Easter 2012, with a rolling call for subsequent terms. To present a paper or for more information on the research group, please contact the convenor, Mona Elbahtimy (Email) or the director of the Centre, Dr. Sharath Srinivasan (Email). Read More
New communication technologies and citizen-led governance in Africa
CGHR's two-year research collaboration with the team behind FrontlineSMS examines whether and how innovations in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are enriching citizen-led governance in Africa. Case-study field research in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda is well under way. Our approach is inspired by two main tenets: that an understanding of ICTs’ potential to reconfigure citizen-state relations in Africa must be grounded in a contextual understanding of prevailing dynamics of political participation; and that new frameworks are needed to capture the ways in which ICTs interact with the unique structures and practices characterising governance in Africa. The project will analyse the extent to which these interactions have practical implications on flows of information dealing with social issues, as well as on the access and the quality of public services and goods. Read more