John Cabot University, in collaboration with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), is happy to announce the 11th edition of the Summer School on Migration and Human Rights, which will be delivered at JCU from July 13 through 17, 2026. The deadline for applications is June 29, 2026.
International migration and human mobility are among the most pressing policy and security challenges of our time. Recent United Nations frameworks emphasize the urgent need for a migration governance firmly grounded in international human rights norms, while also addressing legitimate security concerns related to border management, transnational crime, and the protection of both communities and migrants. These frameworks call for expanding safe and regular pathways, protecting vulnerable groups, and stronger international cooperation to respond effectively to forced displacement, mixed migration flows, climate-related mobility, and relocation arising from protracted crises.
These global dynamics are reflected in the scale and complexity of contemporary displacement. According to the 2024 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Global Trends, over 123 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, persecution, human rights violations, and events seriously disturbing public order.
At the same time, transnational trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants continue to represent highly lucrative criminal activities, with routes affecting all regions of the world.
Migration governance is also being reshaped by the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), which are increasingly employed in border management, biometric identification, risk profiling, and case processing. While these tools may enhance efficiency and support humanitarian coordination, they also raise significant human rights concerns.
Public debate on migration is further complicated by the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation, especially through the internet and social media, fueling harmful narratives that portray migrants as security threats or social burdens
The 11th Summer School on Migration and Human Rights is an intensive program that examines the legal, policy, social, and technological dimensions of migration governance and rights protection. Some of the topics that will be addressed include:
- International human rights, humanitarian, migration, anti-trafficking, and asylum laws
- Rights of asylum seekers and refugees under international and European law
- Irregular migration: balancing human rights and security
- Migrant protection and assistance
- Right to health for migrants and refugees
- Protection of migrant children
- Interreligious dialogue and the social inclusion of migrants and refugees
- Migration, development, and integration
- AI and digital border management: human rights implications
- Algorithmic decision-making in migration systems
- Disinformation, public narratives on migration, and counter-narratives
The Summer School offers a comprehensive exploration of professional, legal, social, scientific, and academic perspectives through theoretical lectures, group discussions, dynamic case studies, individual readings, and practical exercises. The faculty of the Summer School comprises leading scholars and academics from John Cabot University and other universities, along with representatives from the United Nations system, international human rights bodies, and civil society.
By attending the course in person at JCU’s beautiful campuses in the heart of Rome, participants will have the unique opportunity to interact with internationally recognized experts and peers from around the world, exchange views and opinions, and build lasting professional relationships. This experience promotes intercultural dialogue and deepens understanding of some of the world’s most complex and debated issues
The course is intended for university and post-graduate students in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Social Sciences, and other related fields. Professionals working in governmental bodies, local authorities, as well as international and non-governmental organisations who wish to deepen their understanding of contemporary migration dynamics, policies, and challenges, including the human rights issues affecting migrants, can benefit from the course.
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, a first university degree programme (bachelor’s level or equivalent).
- Possess a strong command of the English language.
Detailed information on entry requirements, certificate of participation, registration fee, and cancellation and refund policy is available at the
Summer School webpage.
