Human Rights Centre (HRC) is a scientific, research, analytical, educational, training, advisory, and service unit operating within the organizational structures of Collegium Civitas. The main goal of the HRC is to contribute to the contemporary discourse on human rights, particularly in aspects related to the development of the sociology of human rights, business and human rights, and the evolution of human rights in the 21st century. 

HRC tasks include:  

• Conducting scientific research. 
• Developing expert opinions and analyses. 
• Publishing the results of conducted research.  
• Conducting teaching activities in the field of human rights at Collegium Civitas.  
• Organizing scientific conferences and research seminars. 
• Organizing workshops and trainings.  
• Cooperation with civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, the businesses, trade unions, industry organizations and public institutions both in Poland and abroad.  
• Cooperation with similar research centers in Poland and abroad.  
• Building a network of experts and practitioners operating in the HRC’s areas of interest. 

The main research areas of HRC:  

• sociology of human rights, 
• business and human rights,  
• regulatory trends in relation to business and human rights,  
• reporting of human rights issues by companies,  
• human rights in the context of environment protection and climate change,  
• human rights and new technologies. 

Dr. Jacqueline Kacprzak
PhD in social sciences in the field of sociological sciences.
Her research interests focus on the sociology of human rights, changes in modernity and capitalism, and the impact of climate change and the development of new technologies on human rights. Expert in human rights, responsible business conduct, non-financial reporting, and due diligence standards (CSR/RBC, ESG, DD). Mediator in civil and commercial cases. In public administration at the government and international levels (OECD, EU, and UN), she has been dealing with responsible business conduct issues for over ten years. She represents Poland in the OECD Working Group for Responsible Business Conduct, and since 2017, as a member of the Bureau of this Group. Moderator of conferences, workshops, and meetings related to responsible business conduct, sustainable development, non-financial reporting, business, and human rights.

Dr. Barbara Markowska-Marczak
Doctor of humanities in philosophy.
Assistant professor at the Institute of Sociology. Edmund Wnuk-Lipiński Collegium Civitas, researcher of public discourse, cultural sociologist. Member of the board of the PTS Social Communication Research Section and the Memory Studies Association. Her research interests focus on social theory and philosophy, especially on the transformations of the libidinal economy of contemporary capitalism (relations between life-desire and capital) in the context of climate change. As part of its activities, the Center is interested in researching the social and political consequences of human rights from the perspective of posthumanism and the Anthropocene.

Dr. Lidia Stępińska-Ustasiak
PhD in social sciences in the field of sociological sciences. Her research interests focus on the social impact of technology, digital literacy and the implications of ICT for human and institutional capacity building. Researcher, lecturer, co-author of reports and publications. Public policy expert with over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications and ICT sector (T-Mobile, Orange and UPC Poland). President of the Polistratos Institute foundation. Since 2018, the representative of Europe region to the Group on Capacity Building Initiatives at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) elected chairwoman for the period 2019 – 2023.

We invite scientists interested in the topics of the Human Rights Centre to cooperate with us.

CONTACT:
jacqueline.kacprzak@civitas.edu.pl
barbara.markowska@civitas.edu.pl
lidia.stepinska-ustasiak@civitas.edu.pl