We are pleased to invite you to the "Empowering Change: Bridging Human Rights Advocacy and Global Engagement" virtual conference. This insightful two-day event will be held on April 25-26 via Zoom, and will feature presentations by students from the RSSS/HRTS 561 course who have partnered with international NGOs to complete impactful human rights projects. During this year's conference, students will showcase the culmination of their work assisting 10 human rights organizations across five countries. The projects span critical areas such as environmental protection, migration, freedom of speech, revitalization of indigenous languages, and several other pressing human rights issues.

RSSS 461/561 "Human Rights in Eurasia" is an innovative course offered by the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies in collaboration with the MA Program in Human Rights Practice at the University of Arizona. The course provides an in-depth exploration of significant human rights concerns in the Eurasian region, with a particular focus on the integration and implementation of international human rights in various Eurasian states. The curriculum delves into the historical background and socio-cultural foundations of states in the region, examining the human rights of minorities and other communities. It addresses specific issues including LGBTQ+ rights, minority and linguistic rights, regional feminism, among others. The course critically assesses the international human rights system's effectiveness in upholding these rights and considers diverse approaches and perceptions of rights by states and governing bodies. A key component of the course is experiential learning, where students engage directly in social mobilization and civic activism alongside human rights activists within the region.

Join us as we engage in dialogue, learn from our students' experiences, and inspire change through global engagement!

Celebrate Spring with the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies! 
Maslenitsa (aka Spring Festival or Pancake Week) is one of the popular
holidays of many Eastern European countries which all share excitement
for the end of winter. We will also be celebrating Nauryz with traditional games and activities from Central Asia.

Panel Two Years of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Challenges, Insights, and Prognoses

Dr. Anastasia Gordienko, Assistant Professor, Department of Russian and Slavic Studies, College of Humanities
Talk Title: "Collective Memory and Identity of Russians and Ukrainians on the Verge of the Full-Scale Russian Invasion (2016-2020)"
Dr. Pavlo Krokhmal, Professor, Systems and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
Talk Title: "Ukraine: Entering the Third Year of Full-Scale Russian Aggression"
Dr. Jane Zavisca, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Professor in the School of Sociology
Talk Title: “The Importance of Housing Resources for Rebuilding Ukraine and Integrating Displaced Persons into New Communities

As the war in Ukraine continues, how has the response of the Central-Eastern European states evolved? What are some of the "lessons learned" for the NATO front-line states? The Department of Russian and Slavic Studies invites you to a discussion of the Central-Eastern European perspective on the war with Visiting Scholar Dr. Wojciech Michnik. Learn more about the rippling effects of the war in Ukraine and how the regional response to the war reflects the area's history and crucial role in European security relationships.