In February 2026 PUG's Africa Hub is hosting a symposium, focused on Strengthening Universities’ Role in the Protection of Democracy and Human Rights. The symposium examines threats to civic space, human rights and democracy. It also focuses on developing a shared understanding of the role of universities in defending democracy and human rights defenders (HRDs) in the current global context while advancing ideas for building a cohesive protection ecosystem. 

The symposium is convened by the Africa Hub at UWC, in partnership with the UNESCO Chair on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders at the University of York and the UWC Chair on Citizenship and Democracy, and will bring together 46 participants from 22 countries, including representatives from universities, civil society organisations, and donor institutions across Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. 

The symposium takes place amid rising threats to HRDs and shrinking civic space, at a time when protection systems in many countries have weakened due to under-resourcing and a lack of continuous learning and adaptation. It thus provides a crucial platform for African, and other global south actors to share experiences, build networks, and develop joint strategies for human rights protection. It also foregroundes universities and civil society as potentially complementary actors in research, documentation, advocacy, and protection.