Jakob Elster (49)
I have been at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights since 2016, first as an associate professor and recently (since 2023) as a professor. I obtained my PhD in philosophy from the University of Oslo in 2007, and before coming to NCHR, I have been the research school coordinator at the Ethics Programme, University of Oslo (2007-2008), a postdoctoral researcher at the Ethics Programme and at the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas (IFIKK), University of Oslo (2008-2011) and a senior adviser at the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REC) South-East Norway (2011-2016).
I was deputy leader and head of research at the Centre from January 2022 to June 2023 (a position from which I am currently on leave as I am on a sabbatical), as well as during the spring semester of 2020, and I thus have recent experience with the leadership of the Centre. I also have experience with the organization of the Faculty of Law centrally, from being a member of the Programme for Research Education (PFF) since 2017 and a deputy member of the Faculty board from 2020 to 2023 (albeit as the fourth deputy). My positions as a member of one of Norway’s Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (from 2017) and as a deputy member of the National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (since 2023) have given me valuable insight into research ethics and the organization of research, which it would be useful to draw on as the Centre leader.
Why am I running for election as director?
I am a candidate for the position as the Centre leader as I believe it is an important and rewarding task to work towards consolidating and strengthening the Centre as an academic community, and to contribute to the Centre being able to perform well on its many important tasks within the field of human rights. I believe in leadership based on dialogue, and I see it as an important task for the Centre leader to ensure the autonomy of all members of staff at the Centre and to provide conditions that enable all members of staff to do their job well. If I am elected, I will encourage and seek to enable an atmosphere of fruitful collaboration between members of staff at the Centre. I will also work to ensure a good work environment at the Centre, including a healthy work-life balance.
Gentian Zyberi (46)
Gentian Zyberi is a Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. He has 20 years of professional experience in the field of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and public international law.
At the Centre, he has served as director of education (2015-2018), director of the Centre (2018-2021), and editor-in-chief of the Nordic Journal of Human Rights (2019-2022). Professor Zyberi has been a member of the UN Human Rights Committee (2019-2022); member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Netherlands (2016-2028); and Defense team member at the ICTY (2004-2012). He was selected among over 100 candidates to serve in the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency for the period 2023-2028. Gentian established and led the Faculty Research Group on Human Rights, Armed Conflicts, and the Law of Peace and Security (2017-2021) and currently leads the Faculty Thematic Group on the Domestic Impact of International Human Rights Law (2023-2026). He has worked and partnered with various universities in the Netherlands, Albania, China, the US, UK, Turkey, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, France, Italy, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Colombia, Palestine, and Norway. In the last ten years, Gentian has published about 40 book chapters and articles, three edited book volumes, and three special journal issues. He leads a Norhed II Project (2021-2026) and an UTFORSK Project (2021-2025) and over the last 4 years has raised about 26 million NOK through four projects.
His research interests include the role of international courts and tribunals and UN human rights treaty bodies in developing international human rights and humanitarian law; the protection of community interests through international law; and, transitional justice processes, especially in the Balkans.
Why am I running for election as director?
The Centre has great potential that needs to be further utilized, especially given human rights are under pressure abroad and at home. I would like to implement the Centre Strategy 2022-2030 and make the Centre the focal point for human rights research, education, and dissemination, in Norway, and the first go-to Norwegian partner for research and education projects with sister international higher education institutions.