The University of Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to peace with an academic event on the situation in Palestine
PRESS RELEASE
Loyal to its academic and institutional commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, the University of Barcelona is organizing “Palestina: visions des de l’acadèmia i el periodisme” (Palestine: Views from Academia and Journalism) to analyse the current state of the conflict. On 7 April at 5.00 pm, the UB’s Historic Building’s Paranymph Hall (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585), will host renowned university and journalist voices to address the situation in the region from a geopolitical, institutional, social, media and legal point of view, as well as to present possible horizons. will host the event, which can be followed online on UBtv.
Loyal to its academic and institutional commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, the University of Barcelona is organizing “Palestina: visions des de l’acadèmia i el periodisme” (Palestine: Views from Academia and Journalism) to analyse the current state of the conflict. On 7 April at 5.00 pm, the UB’s Historic Building’s Paranymph Hall (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585), will host renowned university and journalist voices to address the situation in the region from a geopolitical, institutional, social, media and legal point of view, as well as to present possible horizons. will host the event, which can be followed online on UBtv.
During the event, a video message from Kherieh Rassas, Vice-Rector of An-Najah International University in the West Bank and current President of the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), will be screened. The event will be closed by the rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia.
Peace, democracy and human rights
This will be the third edition of the sessions that the UB has scheduled in recent years to show its commitment to the values of democracy, human rights and peace. The first edition was held after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was titled “Invasió a Ucraïna: aturem la guerra, defensem la pau”(Invasion in Ukraine: stop war, stand for peace). The second session, titled “Perspectives en diàleg: Israel-Palestina, una aposta per la pau” (Perspectives in dialogue: Israel-Palestine, standing up for peace) took place in February 2024, months after the Hamas attacks and kidnapping of civilians in October 2023 and the start of the total war strategy in the Gaza Strip launched by the State of Israel. This third edition will focus on the consequences of the Israeli government’s strategy on the Palestinian people and the possible horizons for peace that can be envisioned.
The UB took an unequivocal position in favour of peace and human rights through this institutional statement and the commitments made by the institution’s management and governing bodies.
Students from Palestine at the UB
The UB is currently hosting four students from Palestine, three from Syria, two from Afghanistan, three from the Democratic Republic of Congo, one from Eritrea and four from Somalia — nine women and eight men — as part of the Transition Course to University Studies and subsequent bachelor’s or master’s degrees. This action is part of the UB’s Support programme for refugees and people from conflict areas (UB Refugi), coordinated by the UB Solidarity Foundation and co-financed by Barcelona City Council through the Directorate of Human Rights Services, Global Justice and International Cooperation. In this latest edition, the UB gave priority to Palestinian students, given the serious humanitarian situation in the area and in accordance with the measures approved by the UB’s Governing Board and the Governing Council in spring 2024.
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