Human Development Research Initiative

HDRI is excited to announce the release of our latest paper: "Reimagining Health Pluralism: The Role of Traditional Healers in Addressing the HIV and TB Syndemic in South Africa". Authored by Sithole kaMiya Nkosana and edited by Laura Coburn, this crucial study explores the necessity of integrating Indigenous knowledge into formal health structures. As Southern Africa continues to battle the interlinked epidemics of HIV and TB, this paper argues that relying solely on biome

HDRI is excited to announce the release of our latest policy brief: "Suspension of Rights and Informal Migration Governance: The Case of Italy's Pantelleria Hotspot". Authored by Guglielmo Maria Barbetta and Camilla Pardini, this critical study examines the hidden human costs of migration management at one of the EU's principal entry points. For over a decade, migrant arrivals on the Italian island of Pantelleria have been processed at a facility operating outside of requir

Are "smart camps" truly a step forward for humanitarian aid, or just a new form of digital containment? HDRI is thrilled to present our newest paper authored by Farhan Soumit, Giorgos Kapasakalis, and Renteria Vizcarra Arantza Micaela, and it explores the rapidly changing landscape of European migration management. As Europe's borders become increasingly digitized, this paper analyzes the emergence of digital border infrastructures on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos , u

HDRI is pleased to announce the publication of our latest policy brief: "Women at Work: Labour exploitation, racialized and gendered precarity in Bangladesh’s ready-made-garment industry". Authored by Laura Janini Dohmen and supervised by Siya Goyal, this critical study examines the systemic challenges faced by female workers in one of the world's largest garment manufacturing hubs. As international discussions surrounding supply chain due diligence legislation gain momentum,

HDRI is pleased to announce the publication of our latest policy brief: "Reskilling Young Climate Migrants to Support Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition". Authored by Francesca Bianchini and edited by Joud Hanoun, this comprehensive study explores the critical intersection of climate policy, labor markets, and human migration. As Vietnam works toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, how can policymakers bridge the gap between infrastructural investments and human realities

HDRI is proud to announce the release of our latest research paper, about the overqualified NEET youth in South Korea. Authored by Dahui Kim and supervised by Siya Goyal, this comprehensive publication explores the complex structural and cultural barriers that prevent highly skilled young individuals from thriving in the modern workforce. Key Insights from the Research: 📊 A Unique Demographic Challenge: In South Korea, NEET (not in education, employment, or training) youth r

How does a pluralistic legal system impact gender equality in marriage and divorce? 🤔 📜 HDRI is thrilled to share our latest research! Authored by Momna Ahmad and edited by Renata Freeman, this comprehensive paper examines the extent to which Pakistan complies with Article 16(1)(c) of CEDAW. This crucial international clause mandates that men and women must have equal rights and obligations during marriage and at its dissolution. While progressive steps exist such as Punjab

🌍 HDRI is proud to present our latest publication covering the policy brief, "Operationalising Nature's Rights: A Roadmap for Guardian Councils and Transboundary Governance," authored by Leoni Papantina and edited by Joud Hanoun. This critical research delineates a structural transformation in European environmental law, advocating for an ecocentric legal framework that recognises ecosystems as distinct legal persons and rights-holders rather than mere exploitable resources.

The Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI) presents its new publication on "Gender-Based Persecution and Protection: Afghan Women and Girls In The French Asylum Framework" written by @Anna Lisa Johner and edited by @Guglielmo Maria BARBETTA. This brief examines the acute effects of forced migration due to the systematic gender-based persecution of Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule, and the urgent need for EU states to implement gender-responsive migration govern

Are we sleepwalking into a new nicotine epidemic? 🚭💨 While traditional smoking is on the decline, a new, colorful, and candy-flavored threat is taking its place. The Human Research Development Initiative is proud to present our latest research: "Youth Vaping – A Trip Down Cigarette Memory Lane" . A huge thank you to our brilliant author, Mathilde Le Blanc Braouézec , and expert editor, Laura Coburn, for putting a spotlight on this urgent issue! 👏👩‍🔬 The rapid rise of e

📄 The EU's newest reception centres on Lesvos and Samos are fitted with biometric gates, AI surveillance, and real-time monitoring. Behind that infrastructure: overcrowded facilities, daily water shortages, and people who can't eat when the system goes down. "Smart Camps and Digital Border Governance in the Eastern Mediterranean" is HDRI's new Migration & Security research paper, authored by Soumit Farhan, Georgios Kapsalis, and Arantza Renteria Vizcarra, and edited by Gugli

Discover the profound connections between France's colonial past, migration flows from Africa, and their lasting ripple effects on security, society, and development in this groundbreaking research paper. Authored by Lejla Ajdin and edited by G.M. Barbetta, this HDRI study dives deep into migration from former French colonies, focusing on Morocco and Niger to France, where immigrants comprise over 10% of the population.🌍✨ ​ Our study examines how colonial histories shape tod

🌿 A UNESCO forest. A border wall. A humanitarian emergency that EU law is struggling to address. HDRI's new Migration & Security paper examines what has been unfolding at the Białowieża Forest, on the Poland-Belarus border, since 2021. Author Guglielmo Maria Barbetta traces the overlapping consequences of border militarization: systematic pushbacks denying migrants access to asylum, documented violence against people stranded in dangerous conditions, and a fortified wall cut

Our research coordinator Soumyadeep Som presents his latest Global Health paper, edited by Laura Coburn, on the rising public‑health threat of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. The project explores how HMPV, a major cause of respiratory infections, is increasingly affecting children, the elderly, and immunocompromised populations, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. Despite advances in surveillance and molecular diagnostics, critical gaps remain: ✅ Urban–rural dispari

🚨 Is Europe turning digital tools into democratic threats? HDRI's latest Thematic Index on Surveillance presents how digital surveillance is rapidly expanding across Europe, framed as essential for security but increasingly threatening civic space, privacy, and participation. 📊This research analyzes France and Germany's normalization of intrusive tools like drone monitoring and metadata retention against Estonia's transparency model, using a 10-level "Levels of Digital Su

This research written by Amjad Nablsi and edited by Guglielmo Barbetta, explores how large-scale refugee return is reshaping security and stability in post-war Syria, showing that while return brings hope, it can also trigger violence, reprisals, and new governance challenges. The paper argues that safe and sustainable return depends on fair, civilian-led security forces , inclusive reforms, and coordination between state actors and aid organizations. It reframes refugee r

Breaking the silence on stigma is a policy choice. 🏳️‍🌈 Today, HDRI publishes “The Burden of Stigma: LGBTQ+ Mental Health Policy Recommendation Paper” - our final 2025 output on global health and human rights, grounded in youth-led research and a structural understanding of minority stress. Co-developed by Gabriele Cotronei and the participants to our latest webinar, the paper translates lived experience and scientific evidence into concrete insights for institutions. 🏫 O

Across Europe, cities are being reshaped by neoliberal planning, financialization, and smart‑city agendas. HDRI’s final 2025 paper, from the Economic, Social and Cultural rights thematic area, unpacks how these forces intersect with spatial polarization, gentrification, and youth precarity , and how they redefine what participation, inclusion, and the right to the city mean today. From Milan and Barcelona , our research shows how revitalization strategies, often framed as s

Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI) is pleased to share a new paper by Serhat Calimli (Researcher) and Laura Coburn (Editor), exploring an often overlooked dimension of contemporary politics: the emotional and psychosocial impacts of right‑wing populist narratives. Across Europe and beyond, right‑wing populist movements have moved from the margins to the mainstream. Their messaging frequently centers on crisis, cultural threat, and societal decline, which resonate

Ambient air pollution is an emerging environmental issue affecting regions worldwide. According to the State of Global Air (SOGA) Report 2024, air pollution is a major health threats to all population with 8.1 million deaths globally (12% of total global death) , more than 700,000 deaths were children under five (15% of all global deaths due to air pollution), and 16,600 deaths for children on the age of 5-14 years – linked to air pollution. Children are more vulnerable to ai