The Graduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policy (PPGDH) of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná is linked to the Direction of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovation and integrates with the School of Education and Humanities.
Main Objective
The main objective of the Master in Human Rights and Public Policy of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná is to contribute to the development of scientific competence and train professors and researchers in the field of Human Rights with an interdisciplinary approach based on specially in the areas of knowledge of social sciences, law, education, social work, philosophy, history, and theology. These subjects, traditionally consolidated in specialized knowledge, will be mobilized and articulated to overcome knowledge fragmentation and bring the PUC-PR’s schools and courses closer together, thus stimulating the dialogue between knowledge areas that integrate an interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological conception of Human Rights and social reality.
Specific Objectives
Developing research and knowledge by promoting interdisciplinary research in human rights, thus producing regional, national and international knowledge on the subject and also integrating and expanding a network of associated research and actions, especially with Latin American countries.
The proposal to create the Graduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policy – PPGDH is the result of consolidating the experience of professors from PUC-PR School of Education and Humanities in the areas of teaching, research, and supervision of undergraduate theses, research mentorships, specializations, and master’s and doctorate degrees, notably linked to the courses in Social Sciences, Philosophy, History, Pedagogy, Social Work, and Theology.
The Master in Human Rights and Public Policy program encompasses two years (24 months) leading to Masters’ degree. A total of 34 credits are required for obtaining the degree, with a minimum of 18 credits in courses, of which 14 credits correspond to mandatory subjects; ten credits upon approval of the thesis and six credits in complementary activities such as publication of complete articles in scientific journals ranked in Qualis-Capes, book chapters or books (four credits), participation with full paper publication in Scientific Proceedings (three credits), and another activity formally indicated by the supervisor (two credits).
Human Rights, Ethics, and Public Policy
Area that concentrates subjects and theoretical and methodological research on the set of human rights—civil, political, social, economic, cultural, and environmental, among others—and on the public policies aimed at their effectiveness. Political, historical, social, educational, and cultural aspects of human rights are the object of study based on theoretical and normative conceptions that articulate, from an interdisciplinary perspective, scientific, educational and philosophical knowledge.
1. Lines of research
It brings together and integrates disciplines, studies and research on public policy and human rights, with an emphasis on the areas of equality, identity, poverty, and violation of rights. It articulates studies that address public actions, justice systems, legal measures, international documents on human rights and their monitoring and promotion, seeking, on the one hand, contextual and ideological understanding and, on the other hand, the interpretation of their implications for sociopolitical relations and modes of sociability. This line of research aims at investigating historical agents and processes of constitution and defense of human rights. The targeted agents include international organizations and modalities of social participation that introduce critical alternatives to the existing systems of protection and rights. This line of research is based on Brazil and establishes articulation or comparison with other countries in the regional, Latin American, and international contexts.
2. Lines of research
It brings together and integrates subjects, research, and theoretical and methodological studies on human rights. It includes studies that articulate historical, philosophical, legal, and political conceptions about human rights, considering their cultural roots with an emphasis on diversity and identity creation. It also includes studies on human rights based on theories of the state, national and international political regimes, and normative approaches based on theories of social justice.
Graduated in Law from the Federal University of Paraná (1990), Master in Law from the Federal University of Paraná (2003), PhD in Law from the Federal University of Paraná (2011). Post Doctorate in Law at the Postgraduate Program in Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, PPGD / PUCPR, (2020). She is Full Professor of Constitutional Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, also integrating the Post-Graduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policies. She coordinates the Research Group: Alterity and Constitution in the Perspective of Contemporary Tensions. She has experience in the area of Law, with emphasis on Constitutional Law, acting mainly on the following themes: human rights in the decolonial perspective, new Latin American constitutionalism, fundamental rights and human rights, International Systems for the Protection of Human Rights, neoconstitutionalism and constitutionalism and democracy .
CNPq Productivity Scholarship. Post-doctorate from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (SciencesPo). PhD in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (2005) with a doctoral internship at the Paris-Est Créteil University and at Center Michel Foucault (2004). Master in Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2000). Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (1991) and Bachelor of Theology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (1997). Professor of the Master/PhD in Philosophy and the Master in Human Rights and Public Policy of PUC-PR. Author of the book Foucault e a Crítica da Verdade (second edition, revised in 2013). Organizer of the books Mente, Cognição, Linguagem (Champagnat, 2008) and Ética: Abordagens e Perspectivas (second edition, revised and expanded in 2011) and co-organizer of Foucault e o Cristianismo (Autêntica 2012). He has experience in the field of contemporary philosophy, with publications in the sub-areas of ethics, political philosophy, and human rights. Main research areas: ethics, politics, subjectivity, biopolitics, governmentality, human rights, resistance.
Professor of Social Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná/Curitiba Campus. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), a Master’s Degree in Political Sociology from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from the State University of Londrina (UEL). He is the author of the book Jovens em Conflito com a Lei: Liberdade Assistida e Vidas Interrompidas and co-author of the book Juventude, Violência, Cidadania e Políticas Públicas em Curitiba e Região Metropolitana, published by the Research Nucleus of the Institute for the Defense of Human Rights/IDDEHA-PR. He currently teaches the undergraduate course in Social Sciences at PUC-PR and a research member of the Human Rights Nucleus of the same institution. He is a keynote speaker and the author of dozens of articles published since 2004 in the newspapers Folha de Londrina, Jornal de Londrina and Gazeta do Povo. He develops PIBIC studies and research projects in urban sociology with an emphasis on the topics of youth, violence, public policy, and human rights.
PhD in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro - PUC-RIO (2014) with postdoctoral activities at UFBA (2017-2018), with a PPDOC / CAPES / FAPITEC scholarship. He was a PDJ / CNPq fellow. Master in Law from the Federal University of Bahia - UFBA (2008). Graduated in Law from the Federal University of Sergipe - UFS (2004). He was a fellow in the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program - IFP. He completed a Master-Sandwich at the Center for Social Studies - CES of the University of Coimbra, under the co-supervision of Professor Dr. Boaventura de Sousa Santos. He is a founding member of ÀGBÀWÍ - Human Rights Advocacy Collective for Traditional Peoples. He is currently a professor at the Postgraduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná - PPGDH / PUCPR, at the Postgraduate Program in Human Rights at Tiradentes University - PPGD / UNIT, Researcher at the Institute of Technology and Research - ITP, President of the Brazilian Association of Researchers and Researchers for Social Justice - ABRAPPS and Full Member of FLACSO Spain. He has experience in the area of Law, with an emphasis on Public Law, Constitutional Law and Human Rights, with expertise in the themes of sustainable development, traditional communities, racial inequality, religious intolerance and public policies. He received the Human Rights Award 2018, from the Ministry of Human Rights and the Human Rights Medal "Dom José Vicente Távora 2019", from the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sergipe.
Post-doctorate at the Catholic University of Paris, France (2014–2015). PhD in Theology (2012) and Master in Theology (2008) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Master in Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2002), Bachelor of Theology from the Studium Theologicum (1995), and a Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (1991). He has experience in systematic theology, Christian anthropology, religious culture, and human rights. Main research areas are Christian anthropology and gender relations. His latest publications are focused on the relationship between theology and gender, theological anthropology, and the history of women’s theology in Latin America.
Degree in Social Work - School of Human and Social Sciences – FIES (1997), Master in Sociology from the Federal University of Paraná (2004) and PhD in Social Work from the PUC-SP (2013). She performed management activities as a technical advisor – Secretariat of Labor, Employment and Social Promotion. She worked as a consultant for the Ministry of Social Development, Pnud, and as a technical advisor for the National Forum of State Secretaries of Social Assistance. She was a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Consultancy in Public Policy. She is a Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and Coordinator of the Human Rights Nucleus. She is a Superintendent of the Social Action Foundation in Curitiba. She particularly develops studies on the subjects of rights, public policies, work management, and social work.
Degree in Social Sciences (full degree) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (1982), Master in Sociology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1987), PhD in Sociology from the Université Laval, Québec, Canada (1995), and Post-Doctorate from the Department of Educational Sciences of the University of Friborg, Switzerland (2008). Associate Researcher of the International Association of French-speaking Sociologists and of the Research Committee “Identidade, Desigualdades e Laços Sociais” as well as a Visiting Professor at the Catholic University of the West – France. His favorite subjects of study, research, and teaching, and in which he has more experience, are sociological theory, public policy, human rights, citizenship, exclusion, and social inclusion.
Degree in Law from the Federal University of Paraná (1984), Specialization in Education Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (1988), Master in Latin American Integration from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2001), and Doctorate in Latin American Integration from the USP/PROLAM (2008). He was a Coordinator between 1987 and 1989 in the lato sensu (specialization courses) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, where he coordinates the specialization in law, logistics and international business, and in the stricto sensu (Master and Doctorate). Militant lawyer since 1984 and legal consultant, working mainly in the areas of contracts, regional integration, Mercosur, international relations, maritime law, customs legislation, international economic law, and international law. He is a NEADI coordinator (www.neadi.com.br) and a member of the Paraná Center of Letters and the Paraná Institute of Lawyers.
Maria Cecilia Barreto Amorim Pilla has a bachelor’s degree in Law from UNICURITIBA (1990), a bachelor’s degree in History from Federal University of Paraná (1993), a master’s degree in History from the Federal University of Paraná (1999) and, a doctoral degree in History from the Federal University of Paraná (2004). Currently, she is Adjunct Professor III at the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, and the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policies (master’s degree) and professor of the Theory of Human Rights and History of Human Rights course. She was the coordinator of the Bachelor History Program at PUCPR (2008-2015) and of the Social History of Art Program (lato sensu, 2009-2016). She is member of the DIAITA project (Lusophone Food Heritage) of the University of Coimbra since 2014, area of food history and culture. She is a guest professor at the Humanities Program (doctoral degree) at the Catholic University of Mozambique. He has experience in research in Modern and Contemporary History, acting mainly on the following themes: food heritage, history of food; food, symbols, civilization; civilizing process and human rights and gender. He was a State Council for Historical and Artistic Heritage of Parana member (2017-2019) and a visiting professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon in 2019. She is the leader of the Research Group in History, Culture, and Politics (CNPQ) since 2009.
Full Degree in Pedagogy – Qualification in Educational Guidance from the Federal University of Paraná (1994), Specialization in Special Education with emphasis on Typical Conduct from the Tuiuti University of Paraná (1996), Specialization in Special Education and Public Policy from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (1998), Master in Production Engineering with Emphasis on Educational Technology (2002), and Doctorate in Education History, Politics, and Society from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (2013). She is currently a Professor in Pedagogy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and a member of the Pedagogical Excellence Nucleus of the School of Education and Humanities; Coordinator of the Specialization in Special Education with an emphasis on Inclusion; Coordinator of the Education as Human Law Study Group, with experience in the areas of special education and higher education and emphasis on lecturer training, working mainly on the topics of learning, public policy, and pedagogical projects. She is an Associate of the National Educacion Reserch Association (ANPED), also is invited Professor at the Cathoilc University of Moçambique where she is supervising Ph.D, students in the Humanities Program. She is member of the Latin American Human Rights Network.
PhD in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, with a research internship at Université Paris 1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne), in France. Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Human Rights and Public Policies and of the Philosophy Course at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. Member of the Collegiate Coordination of the Human Rights Nucleus; Coordinator of the Research Group on Human Rights, Mental Health and Public Policies and member of the Research Group on Human Rights and Migration Flows. Researcher in the area of Ethics, Politics and Human Rights, focusing on issues involving the dimension of alterity and the violation of rights in the fields of mental health, migration, indigenous peoples and the homeless. He is currently a Municipal Drug Policy Advisor in the Municipality of São José dos Pinhais.
Swiss naturalized Brazilian, he has a degree (1993) and a Doctorate in Theology (2001), both from the University of Basel, Switzerland. From 2003-19 Professor of Systematic Theology, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue at Faculdades EST, São Leopoldo/RS; since 2019 Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Head of the Postgraduate Programme in Theology at PUCPR; since 2020 also acting in the Postgraduate Programme for Human Rights and Public Policies. Professor extraordinary at the Theological Faculty of Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Moderator of the World Council of Churches' Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation. Member of the Board of Foundation of globethics.net. CNPq reserach productivity scholarship. Research Areas: Public Theology, Political Ethics, Justice, Peace and Violence, Ecumenical and Interreligious Hermeneutics, Religious Mobility, Pluralism, Contextual and Ecumenical Theology, Doctrine of the Trinity.
Professor of the Graduate Program in Bioethics and of undergraduate courses in Social Sciences and Tourism at PUC-PR. PhD in Education from UFPR, Master in Education from PUC-PR, Specialization in Human Geography from UNICENTRO-PR; Specialization in Social and Cultural Anthropology from PUC-PR. She is a member of the Brazilian Society of Bioethics – Paraná section and Coordinator of the Scientific Commission. She is a member of the Brazilian Society for the History of Education. She leads the CNPQ-PUC-PR Universe of Tourism Research Group and is Chief Editor of the Tourism Studies and Research Notebook. Member of the Bioethics Professors Network of Brazil.
The establishment of rights and defense against forms of child and adolescent violence. Historical sociological approach to childhood and adolescence to support the understanding of sociocultural practices and policies aimed at these populations. Policies regarding children, adolescents, and young people, especially those in situations of social vulnerability. Social and economic issues as an explanatory analytical axis for the reproduction of violence against children and adolescents in institutions such as family, school, workspaces, and the state.
reventive public policies. The risk of expanding criminal policy at the landmark of the rules on money laundering and crimes against financial system.
Credit: 3
The relationship between human rights, cultural relativism, cultural diversity, and normativity. Inequality of income, power and based on gender, sexual orientation, life cycle, ethnicity, and territory, among others.
Credit: 3
Theoretical approaches to state and government. Introduction of theoretical questions about the institutional capacity of the state, governance capacity, and policy implementation. Evaluation of dimensions and components of state capacity based on contemporary political theories and approaches to social citizenship. The implications of international regimes for implementing policies and establishing rights.
Credit: 3
History of Human Rights Concepts. Historical background of Human Rights in its political, social, and economic aspects. History of human rights in the West. History of Human Rights in Brazil. Universalism vs relativism. Recognition and constitutional shelter of human rights. Importance of human rights in contemporary constitutional structures.
Credit: 3
Monitoring and evaluation of public policies and government and international reports. Evaluation and monitoring processes and participatory and social control processes over public policies. Implementation and evaluation of specific policies in the field of human rights.
Credit: 3
Human Rights in the international, Latin American, and national spheres. National and international organizations and systems for the protection of rights. Human Rights Effectiveness Instruments. Civil society organizations, promotion and critical alternatives to existing human rights and protection systems. International transfer and diffusion of ideas and policies related to human rights.
Credit: 3
Disciplinary approach and conception of science in the nineteenth century. Science, interdisciplinarity, and the creation of new knowledge and current investigative practices. Epistemological status of human rights. Historical evolution of the concept of human rights from classical antiquity, through the medieval to the modern era. Main assumptions of human rights established in modern times. Human rights and the importance of historical events surrounding their consolidation. Cultural tradition and human rights: the problem of multiculturalism. The principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights. Conception of scientific/academic research. The creation of interdisciplinary research. Identification of the necessary assumptions for the development of knowledge in the area of human rights, namely planning, execution, and presentation of the research.
Credit: 3
Studies in educational policies. Human rights education policies. Meaning of human rights in basic education. Challenges of human rights education in higher education. Human rights as a cross-cutting topic, human rights education, teacher training and school practices.
Credit: 3
Conceptual dimensions of public policy, conceptual dimensions of social equality and inequality. Human rights and contemporary societies. Human rights, democracy, and social movements in Brazil. Public policy and enforcement of rights.
Credit: 3
Interdisciplinary debate on the master’s thesis project with supervising professors. Theoretical studies to define a common conceptual framework. Survey and analysis of the contemporary establishment of human rights and specific topics of master’s projects. Methodological procedures for interdisciplinary research on human rights and public policy. Presentation and discussion of thesis projects at an advanced stage, aiming at preparation for the qualification board.
Credit: 3
Conceptions of justice as a parameter for the creation and implementation of public policies on human rights. Critical and comparative introduction of the main theories on justice. The idea of justice in classical antiquity. The contemporary debate on justice as equity from liberal, libertarian, utilitarian, and communitarian perspectives; justice as well-being in egalitarian, capacitive, and economic formulations; justice, multiculturalism, and recognition policies.
Credit: 3
The theory of natural rights and the conception of personality in the ancient and medieval world. The concept of human being as the basis for the attribution of rights. Universal hospitality by I. Kant. The perspective of rights in the face of cultural pluralism. The historicity of human rights in the thinking of N. Bobbio. The limits of human rights in the face of the Holocaust and the trivialization of evil in Hanna Arendt; naked life in G. Agamben. Human rights in the era of biopolitics and the political ambiguities around humanism. Life management as the main object of contemporary politics. Human rights and the rights of those governed by M. Foucault.
Credit: 3
Credit: 3
Credit: 3
The duration of the Master in Human Rights and Public Policy is up to 24 months. A minimum of 34 credits are necessary for the attainment of the degree. A minimum of 18 credits must be fulfilled in subjects, with 14 credits corresponding to mandatory subjects and the other four credits in optional subjects; ten credits upon approval of the dissertation, and six credits in complementary activities.
The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná defined Human Rights as one of the strategic areas, aiming at promoting research and solidarity institutional initiatives, defense of rights, impact on public policies, and social innovation. Human Rights have absolute synergy with the tradition of PUC-PR and with Marist values; therefore, many activities are developed by the university’s initiative. In this sense, the Program has developed actions such as:
Since 2011, PUCPR has engaged in a project called Excellence in Stricto Sensu that is aimed at internationalizing the institution’s programs to achieve maximum scores of 6 and 7 and to promote transdisciplinarity and innovation in different areas of knowledge, especially in its strategic areas. The PIBIC master program is one its greatest differentials (it allows talented students to attend both undergraduate and graduate stricto sensu programs and develop part of their research in a highly qualified foreign institution) as well as being in harmony with society and focusing on innovation.
The institution must also be constantly attentive to the changing needs of the society, with alignment/realignment to the CAPES criteria and oriented to develop internationally, having internationalization as its main guide in the search for quality in teaching and research.
Every graduate program must meet the criteria set by their corresponding committee; therefore, each program strategic planning and operating criteria needs to be done accordingly.
Criteria for each area need to be discussed within the program annually so that all necessary and appropriate corrective actions can be taken during the four-year period. Each program is committed to structuring and readjusting its strategic planning annually in search of excellence. In addition, the programs are encouraged to rethink their lines of research in order to adapt to the rapid changes that may occur in international and national scenarios.
This graduate program’s dynamism and flexibility must always meet quality criterion both in master’s and doctoral training and in the development of research and innovation, essentially aiming at the improvement of society. Thus, an annual review of each program strategic planning is requested that contains the topics below at a minimum:
The IDP (Institutional Development Plan) document presents the strategic plans of all the programs aligned with the institutional planning, containing the Mission, Vision, SWOT Matrix, Canvas, and road map, and providing information on the needs and intentions of the programs for the 2017–2020 and 2021–2024 quadrennium of the CAPES evaluation.