STARS EU brings together researchers from European universities to address human vulnerability from a social justice perspective

The meeting, organized by the Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, analyzes legal and social responses to situations of weakness 

Researchers from different European universities will meet from 7 to 9 October at the Marie and Louis Pasteur University (UMLP), in Besançon (France), to analyse human vulnerabilities in Europe from a legal and social perspective. The conference, “Legal and Social Justice Perspective on Human Vulnerabilities in Europe”, seeks to promote dialogue between different disciplines and approaches to understand situations of vulnerability and explore responses aimed at inclusion, social justice and empowerment.

The conference, linked to the Thematic Interest Group (TIG) Inclusion and Social Justice of STARS EU, raises human vulnerability as an issue that requires responses that combine the protection of rights with measures aimed at promoting the participation and autonomy of people. It also incorporates perspectives related to discrimination, migration, education and situations of vulnerability, generated or aggravated by armed conflicts

Over the course of the three days, contributions will address different situations and dimensions of vulnerability, including disability and accessibility, the situation of children, poverty and access to debt relief mechanisms, work and economic life, health care and digital vulnerability. 

The opening will be attended by Hugues Daussy, president of UMLP; Christophe Geslot, director of the Legal Research Center of Franche-Comté; and Célia Berger-Tarare, leader of the TIG Inclusion and Social Justice of STARS EU. The eight participating universities, partners of STARS EU, are joined by the partner university Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, from Ukraine, whose six members will tell their testimonies about the situation in times of war.

Vulnerability and access to justice

The congress focuses on the relationship between vulnerability and access to rights and justice. Among the issues that will be analysed are the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights on vulnerability, accessibility policies, vulnerability associated with poverty, access to justice in Albania and the legal implications of different labour and economic contexts.

The social dimension is also extended to areas such as the mental health of students, the specific difficulties of remote island populations and las consecuencias de la digitalización de los servicios sanitarios. En este último caso, el programa aborda las implicaciones legales de la atención sanitaria digital para pacientes y profesionales, así como la identidad digital, la alfabetización digital y el diseño inclusivo.

The conference will conclude with a session titled “From Protection to Empowerment,” shifting the focus from the protection of individuals in vulnerable situations to issues concerning empowerment, social cohesion, collaborative practices, and individual agency. 

The aim of the gathering is to contribute to a broader understanding of human vulnerabilities and to foster an exchange of perspectives among European researchers, addressing these challenges through the lenses of social justice, inclusion, and the strengthening of autonomy and participation.