A seminar organised by University of Gothenburg and Stockholm University brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss how human rights arguments are used in investigative and decision-making procedures within public administration.

The meeting, held within the framework of the HRJust project, focused on how states invoke human rights and children’s rights when justifying policies and measures, particularly in areas linked to social protection, crime prevention, and migration. Participants also discussed how inquiry procedures function in practice, including the role of experts, the impact of time pressure in policy processes, and the challenges public officials face when balancing professional responsibility with political directives.

Maria Grahn-Farley, Coordinator of HRJust and Visiting Professor at University of Gothenburg, opened the seminar with an overview of the HRJust project. Charlotta Helge then presented key findings from the report Silent Administration by TCO. The programme also included contributions from Axel Holmgren of Stockholm University, lawyer Tomas Fridh, Anna Dorrian from BRIS and member of the HRJust advisory board, Martin Nyman of Civil Rights Defenders, and Elin Wernquist from The Children’s Rights Bureau, offering perspectives from research, legal practice, and civil society.

Discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining high-quality investigative processes, ensuring transparency in decision-making, and safeguarding space for professional expertise when policies affecting fundamental rights are developed and implemented.

The seminar provided a platform for continued exchange between researchers and practitioners working with human rights, administrative law, and public governance, contributing to ongoing reflections on how investigative procedures and human rights reasoning shape current policy developments.