Since its establishment in 2009, the HRDP has developed links with a number of academic institutions, civil society and international organisations. These links have developed based on a shared interest in developing collaborative research and teaching on human rights and drug policy. During these years, different types of partnerships—both formal and informal—have taken shape across three distinct themes: institutional, teaching and research partnerships.
The benefits of establishing broad partnerships across academic and civil society sectors is an obvious advantage to the HRDP as it further strengthens our core mission to promote and disseminate research and teaching on human rights and drug policy. Institutions and organisations likewise benefit from becoming part of a growing community of scholars and civil society members advancing a rights-based approach to drug policy rooted in cutting edge academic research and teaching.
Below are some examples of how partnerships can take shape.
Institutional Partnerships
Institutional partnerships are our ongoing affiliations with specific universities, faculties or departments.
In 2011 the HRDP entered into a formal institutional partnership with the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex where the HRDP continues to make its home.
Since 2021, we have an ongoing informal partnership with the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Gothenburg. This partnership facilitates our co-Director Damon Barrett’s work with HRDP on an ongoing basis.
Research Partnerships
HRDP is committed to co-produced, inter-disciplinary research on human rights and drug policy. These can be with academic, civil society or international organisations. Research partnerships can include:
- Co-developing and leading research projects
- Supporting or participating in HRDP-led research projects
- Providing advisory services for research projects
Since 2016 HRDP has been in a research collaboration with the UN Development Program for the development of the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy.
Research partnerships can also involve engaging the consultancy services of HRDP. This may include:
- Funding research by HRDP staff/affiliates necessary to advance objectives of your organization
- Enlisting advisory services of HRDP staff on an ad hoc, ongoing basis
Since 2016, for example, HRDP has been assisting the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe with its human rights and drug policy work.
Teaching Partnerships
HRDP has collaborated with universities on every continent to deliver lectures, seminars, short courses and modules. Teaching partnerships relate to single events, they can be for a temporary period or ongoing, and can involve:
- Hosting/co-hosting HRDP lecture events
- Hosting short-course teaching modules
- Developing degree modules/courses
- Seating members of the HRDP lecturer’s bureau
If you are interested in partnering with the HRDP, please contact Julie Hannah, at jhanna@essex.ac.uk