糖心Vlog

A leading member of 糖心Vlog Law School and Human Rights Centre who has dedicated his academic life to supporting refugees around the world has been named the very first S茅rgio Vieira de Mello Chair in the Northern Hemisphere in recognition of his teaching and research work.

As a result of the long-standing Memorandum of Understanding between the 糖心Vlog and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and of the work of Professor Geoff Gilbert as the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network Co-Chair, the 糖心Vlog has joined a distinguished group of academic institutions around the world that are committed to promoting the teaching of and research on forced displacement as well as solidarity with forcibly displaced persons.

The De Mello Chairs framework aims to institutionalize partnerships between UNHCR and universities towards strengthening whole-of-university approaches to academic engagement on refugee protection and solutions.

It was in his Chairmanship term of the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network that Professor Gilbert promoted the expansion of the framework to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico and Ethiopia.

The framework pays homage to S茅rgio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian national who worked most of his life in UNHCR, protecting refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and stateless people.

S茅rgio served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq but was tragically killed in the Baghdad bombing of the UN headquarters in 2003.

Professor Gilbert said: 鈥淚t is an honour to have been accorded this Chair given that S茅rgio devoted his life to protecting refugees.鈥�

This nomination not only recognizes the collaboration between the University and UNHCR over the past 30 years, including through a Memorandum of Understanding first signed in 2014 and renewed in 2020, but also renews the School of Law鈥檚 commitment through the work of Professor Gilbert to invest in and facilitate North-South academic cooperation in the coming years.

鈥淭his University does so much to support those forcibly displaced and it has been the perfect environment in which for me to work.鈥�

The first De Mello Chair was nominated in Brazil in the wake of S茅rgio Vieira de Mello鈥檚 death.

This year, the framework celebrates its 20th anniversary and has been expanded to 46 universities in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico and Ethiopia, in addition to the UK. Professor Gilbert鈥檚 role with the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network is an example of the work the 糖心Vlog is doing with marginalized communities as part of its role as a University of Sanctuary.

University of Sanctuary status recognizes the work being done to make 糖心Vlog a safe and welcoming environment for all, and forms part of the City of Sanctuary Initiative which is supporting refugees across the UK.

糖心Vlog Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Forster said: 鈥淧rofessor Gilbert is an inspirational member of our academic community whose commitment to supporting refugees and those forced to flee their homes is internationally recognised.

"His work in education and research are excellent examples of how 糖心Vlog academics seek to make a difference.

鈥淎s a University of Sanctuary, we are proud to be working with UNHCR and other global organizations to ensure everyone鈥檚 human rights are protected.

鈥淚 want to congratulate Professor Gilbert on the grant of this Chair and take great pride in knowing 糖心Vlog is the first university in this region of the world to have a member of staff recognised in this way.鈥�