THE UNIVERSITY NETWORK of HELSINKI ESPAÑA:
An initiative for the HUMAN DIMENSION

The Non-Governmental Organisation “Helsinki España – Human Dimension” was created in 1990 in Madrid (Spain) by the Princess Monika zu Löwenstein, with the aim of promoting the defence of the human dimension through the education of human rights and fundamental liberties within the university context.

The organization was created in 1990, inspired by the Helsinki Final Act, signed in 1975 by thirty-five states of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which today is The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

To carry out its educative task, Helsinki España develops its work through the UNIVERSITY NETWORK, an International University Network formed by 140 universities from 53 different countries from all over the world. The University Network was officially approved during the Prague Summit, 4 February 1993. As a result, a university action was implemented aimed at defending the Human Dimension.
Initially, the University Network carried out University Forums in parallel to the former CSCE Summits, (Helsinki, in 1992, and Budapest, in 1994) with the participation of all the universities of the network. Through these forums an enriched exchange has been achieved to develop projects, activities and studies intended to promote the respect of the Human Dimension.

Currently, the work of Helsinki España is focused on:
I. Inter-University Projects of Study: Interactive Seminars followed by International Conferences. 1996 – to date
The learning objective of this project is to relate different academic disciplines with human rights. It starts with an interactive internet seminar (hosted by our website: www.humandimension.net), followed by an international conference of great interest due to the historical backgrounds and different socio-cultural approaches of the participants which do not cause points of conflict but strong ties of friendship and mutual understanding. The recognition of the project by some of the universities has resulted in the granting of academic units to participating students. All this is conducive to international co-operation, just as the Helsinki Final Act advises.

II. Courses: “EXPERTS IN CONFLICT PREVENTION OPERATIONS, CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND POST-CONFLICT REHABILITATION,” 2001 – 2008
From 2001 onwards, Helsinki España also works in the preparation of university experts for their quickly incorporation to Peace Missions of International Organizations – OSCE, United Nations, European Union, etc-, developing intensive and practical International Courses for graduated students, architects and engineers who wish to accede to these Missions. Universities of the University Network collaborate in the development of this task, in particular the Complutense University (Madrid, Spain), whereby students, on completion of the course, received a diploma. Moreover the OSCE, the Spanish Government, Embassies of different countries in Spain, Red Cross and the Santander Central Hispano Bank collaborate in this task.

III. UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS PROJECTS DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL SCHOOL CENTERS, 2000 – 2008
The work of Education in Human Rights Helsinki España carries out, is of great importance. In this project, Helsinki España works together with a group of university volunteers of the University Network educated in human rights by Helsinki España. Annually, those volunteers dedicate part of their time to work with children from 8 to 18 years old in different, first and secondary, schools to educate them on the knowledge and respect to human rights.”