On 17 June 2024, the Global Campus (GC) International Student Conference on Just Transition: Conditions for Change in the Global Order launched at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. This event marks a revitalised edition of the GC Global Classroom, a flagship research and networking programme for students, hosted this time by GC Central Asia Master's Programme in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS).
The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Anja Mihr, MAHRS Programme Supervisor, and Dr. Kate Walker, OSCE Academy Director, who welcomed students and guests, presenting the topic of the conference. Prof. Dr. Anja Mihr highlighted the significance of the event, stating “Human Rights are the main key to unlocking sustainability and just and peaceful transitions in the new global order. This conference is the result of students' interest in this matter worldwide joining us to discuss prospects of this development at the OSCE Academy and the GC Central Asia.” Dr. Walker expressed excitement as students and faculty from 26 countries gathered for the Global Campus International Student Conference. “The OSCE Academy is proud to host an event which fosters cooperation, exchange and networking on a global scale.”
Following the welcome by the hosts, Prof. Manfred Nowak, GC Secretary General, noted the work of the Global Campus of Human Rights, the world’s largest institution of human rights education with more than 100 universities, and expressed his gratitude that the GC International Student Conference is hosted by the GC Central Asia Master's Programme in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS) in Bishkek, only one year after its launch. Melis Mamadaliev, Director of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized the advocacy for enhancing the Academy's capabilities and pledged ongoing political and diplomatic support both in Bishkek and Vienna. Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, underlined the significance of the event and noted that it is important to learn about the work students are doing, showcasing papers and research projects from around the world, and bringing diverse perspectives.
Following the introduction, Prof. Saniya Toktogazieva, Professor of International and Constitutional Law at the American University of Central Asia, delivered a keynote speech on “Fundamental and Constitutional Rights in Central Asia,” highlighting the regional challenges and progress in upholding these essential rights.
The conference brought together 25 students and more than 20 faculty members and programme coordinators from the eight GC regional Master's programmes in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, South East Europe, the Caucasus, the Arab world, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific. Throughout the week, students will present their research papers on transitology processes within their respective regions and discuss how these processes address the conditions for a Global Order. Their presentations explored the role of civil society engagement, democratic institution building, international human rights, and criminal law in framing societal change and political transition pathways. The Conference took place between 17 and 20 June at Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan.