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Human Rights, Social Activism, New Friendships, and Portugal

In the course of 8 days, three wonderful, smart people from the organization Rota Jovem transferred all their knowledge on human rights on to 24 young promising people. Day by day, we tackled the most important topics related to human rights. Are they truly universal? How can universal human rights be applied in a culturally diverse world? But at the same time, in this world, previously isolated peoples are being brought together voluntarily and involuntarily by the increasing integration of markets, the emergence of new regional political alliances, and remarkable advances in telecommunications, biotechnology and transportation that have prompted unprecedented demographic shifts and a globalization of massive proportions. How does this affect the cultural diversity? What are the international institutions that can help you if your rights are in danger? What can you, as an individual and an activist, do to help others enjoy their inherent rights? What are the biggest human rights violations in the European countries? We answered these questions and many more with the help of university professors, human rights activists, and the joint efforts of 24 bright young heads. And in the middle of all that thinking, we still managed to see the wonderful Portuguese ocean every day, discuss some human rights issues with local residents, enjoy Lisbon’s nightlife, visit one cheerful LGBT centre, make friends, taste delicious ‘pasteis de nata’, and meet special people! At the end of the day, it is exactly those special people that you take with you in your heart…