Climate, AI and human rights - Law students travel to Vilnius for intensive programme

"I have been interested in international human rights protection for a long time. I thought it was a unique opportunity to be able to study this subject in another European Union country together with international students," says Maj Wiechmann, explaining why she chose this particular course. The experience in Vilnius lived up to her expectations. Lectures and discussions with students from Germany, Poland and Italy focussed on human rights issues in the face of current challenges, from climate change to artificial intelligence. The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entitled "Navigating the Future of Human Rights: Challenges, Innovations & Advocacy in a Changing World" took place as part of the European University Alliance ERUA.

A highlight of the excursion for Maj Wiechmann was a lecture on Vilnius as the "Green Capital of Europe". "The lecture took place in a skyscraper with a façade of glass, chrome and mirrored surfaces in the centre of Vilnius: the Vilnius City Municipality Building. We had a breathtaking view of the Vilnius skyline," reports the impressed student. The panoramic view of the city with its many green spaces gave her an idea of why Vilnius was honoured as a "European Green City" in 2025 - in recognition of its sustainability concept and innovative climate protection measures.

Theory was also combined with very illustrative programme points for other topics. For example, after a lecture on the rights of prisoners, there was an excursion to the former Lithuanian state prison Lukiškės; for Viadrina student Tom Sauer, this was the most impressive experience of the programme. "The prison conditions in the isolation cells and on death row showed us the fundamental importance of comprehensive, justiciable human rights standards at first hand," says Tom Sauer.

The students also exchanged views on the current human rights situation in European prisons. "Serious differences between the various European countries became clear, which opened up exciting new perspectives for us," says Sarah Kleingünther, also a law student at Viadrina. She found the dialogue with other students from different countries and the programme, which focused on lively exchange rather than frontal teaching, particularly exciting. Viadrina law professor Prof. Dr Stefan Haack was also part of the programme. He gave a lecture on the state of emergency within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights and the German Basic Law.

"Overall, the trip to Vilnius enriched me in many ways: I was able to continue my professional education, get to know a new country and make friends with law students from other countries," says Sarah Kleingünther, summarising her experience, which was also shared by the other six Viadrina students who took part in this special seminar. And she adds: "Above all, I had a lot of fun."

Translated by DeepL and edited