Organisation, Social
Share your views on collaboration with Israeli partners
The Executive Board has established a Committee on Human Rights / Conflict Zones to investigate whether Leiden University is collaborating with organisations, institutions or groups that directly or indirectly violate human rights, support war or violate other key international agreements. If such cases are identified, the committee will advise on the implications for these partnerships. The Executive Board will use this advice to decide whether or not to continue the collaboration.
Advice on student exchange agreements with Tel Aviv University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The committee has been asked to issue advice by mid-July on the potential continuation of the student exchange agreements with Tel Aviv University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The exchange programmes with these two universities have been on hold since 2024. A recommendation regarding research collaborations with Israeli colleagues will follow at a later stage. The committee is looking at partnerships requiring formal approval from the Executive Board, not at individual collaborations.
Share your views with the committee
The committee, chaired by Joanne van der Leun, is keen to gain a good picture of the views within our university community. It is therefore inviting all students and staff to submit their views on these collaborations in writing. Given the committee’s tight schedule, clear and concise input is greatly appreciated.
The committee will try to read and consider all submissions in its decision. Unfortunately, it will not be able to respond to each message individually, but all submissions are appreciated. Please send your input to CommissieMensenrechten@bb.leidenuniv.nl by 1 July 2025, using your university email address.
Submissions will be treated confidentially and no personally identifiable information will be included in the final advice. Please bear in mind that your submission may later be made public (with names and contact details removed). The committee hopes that many students and staff members will respond to this call, so the collected input can serve as a meaningful reflection of the views within our community.
Committee on Human Rights / Conflict Zones
The Committee on Human Rights / Conflict Zones is chaired by Professor of Criminology and former dean Joanne van der Leun. Its permanent members are Dorota Mokrosinska (Professor of Practical Philosophy), Dirk Engberts (Emeritus Professor of Normative Aspects of Medicine) and Rick Lawson (Professor of European Law). For the investigation into current institutional collaborations and exchange agreements, the committee is being expanded to include Petra Sijpesteijn (Professor of Arabic).