Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights

About the Project

The Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights took place from 6 to 19 September 2015 in Ulcinj, Montenegro. The Academy was established in spring 2013 by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) in cooperation with the Faculties of Law and Sociology of the University of Vienna and the Faculties of Law and Political Science of the University of Montenegro (Podgorica). The Academy bears the name of the main sponsor, the Hermann and Marianne Straniak Foundation, which supports and fosters among others the goals and ideas laid down in the European Convention of Human Rights.

The two-week Straniak Academy aims at the creation of a bridge between academic and practical knowledge in the fields of human rights, democracy and the rule of law promoted through an interdisciplinary and interactive format. In addition to the basic training, the Academy deals with specific topics which are especially relevant for the region.

The programme of the Academy offers a broad spectrum of topics, reaching from the meaning and conception of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, the principle of human dignity and the culture of human rights, the most important international and European instruments, organisations and mechanisms for providing and facilitating human rights, up to the current challenges and threats to these fundamental values of democratic societies. Additionally, the programme also addresses important specific topics such as the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment and punishment, efficiency, independence and impartiality of the judiciary, guarantees for a fair trial, transparency of the administration and the fight against corruption, freedom of expression and freedom of the media, minority rights, women’s rights and rights of the child, equality and protection against discrimination, social and economic rights and poverty reduction, amongst others.

The Straniak Academy is targeted at students of different academic backgrounds who are about to graduate, as well as graduates standing at the beginning of their careers and is limited to 35 students, thus ensuring the interactive format. The lecturers come from the University of Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights as well as from partner universities and selected national and international institutions, organisations and companies with relevant practical experiences.

Teaching is held in tandem, i.e. a lecturer from Vienna and a lecturer from a Western Balkan State jointly hold the lessons.

Project Data

Country: Austria, Montenegro
Persons involved: Hannes Tretter (Director of the Straniak Academy)
Ivana Jelic (Deputy Director)
Nina Radovic (Coordinator)
Contact persons: Nina Radovic
Lead Organisation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) – Research Association
Partner Organisations: Law Faculty and Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna • Law Faculty and Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Montenegro
Project start: 09/2013
Project end: 09/2018
Funded by: Straniak Foundation UNIQA Agrana Law firms: Grilc, Vouk, Škof; Lansky, Ganzger + partner Central European Initiative (CEI), Mr. Salih Alijagic, CONVALE-METAL d.o.o., Croatia, Univ.-Doz. Dr. Claudia Annacker