The Anawati Chair, in partnership with the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism and the Human Rights Research and Training Centre (HRRTC) at the British University in Egypt (BUE), is pleased to announce a call for applications for an immersive training week entitled:

“Complementarity between Religions and Human Rights.”

Context and Objectives

In a context where the universality of human rights is far from being universally accepted, this immersive programme seeks to demonstrate that Islam and Christianity have each developed rich intellectual and theological reflections that engage meaningfully with human rights. Drawing on their respective religious heritages, the programme promotes an understanding of human rights not as external or imposed norms, but as values that can be articulated, supported, and reinforced from within religious traditions themselves.

The training aims to:

• strengthen awareness of the complementarity between religion and human rights;
• challenge narratives—particularly religiously framed arguments—that undermine human rights;
• foster constructive engagement in support of social cohesion, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence.

Target Group

The program is intended for young participants identified as likely to play an active role in Egypt in the coming years, particularly within institutional, academic, or civil society frameworks. It seeks to create meaningful connections among participants and to support the emergence of a new generation of actors capable of engaging responsibly with issues of religion, human rights, and diversity.

Programme Structure:

The program is structured as an experiential learning journey, combining academic input with interactive and participatory methods. Participants will engage in:

• case studies and guided discussions,
• interfaith dialogue simulations,
• exchanges with international speakers and practitioners,
• real-life scenarios related to conflict prevention and dialogue.

A distinctive feature of the program is its residential format: participants will live together in dormitories at BUE, fostering continuous informal learning, mutual understanding, and authentic relationship-building across religious and cultural traditions.