Last week, the HRJust project hosted a full-day workshop at Stockholm University, bringing together researchers, civil society actors, and international partners to explore the implications of states invoking human rights as justification for policy and governance. Participants included collaborators from Academia Sinica and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), alongside representatives from civil society organisations and academia. The workshop created a space for interdisciplinary and transnational dialogue on how human rights language is mobilised in different contexts.

The day began with a film screening featuring young people from Hammarkullen, who reflected on how legislative changes shape their everyday lives. The screening was followed by an open discussion, grounding the workshop in lived experiences and highlighting the tangible impact of legal and policy frameworks.

A session led by StreetSolid Industries introduced participants to their approach to youth participation, offering practical insights into how young people can be meaningfully involved in shaping responses to social challenges. This session was a key highlight for manyof the day. The day also featured a presentation by International Youth Think Tank, which shared findings from a new international survey. The results highlighted the importance of ensuring that youth-focused legislation, particularly in areas such as responses to gang-related issues, is balanced with and constrained by human rights standards.

Across the day’s discussions, several recurring themes emerged, including migration, segregation, exclusionary forms of justice, and challenges related to integration. Participants also reflected on a broader shift in which states increasingly adopt and repurpose the language traditionally used by civil society and rights-based actors. The workshop highlighted the value of bringing together diverse perspectives to critically examine how human rights are used, interpreted, and operationalised in contemporary governance.