From Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS)

A Very Warm Welcome

Annual Conference of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies

Cities at Risk - From Humiliation to Dignity

18th - 25th September 2016

Dubrovnik, Croatia, at the Inter-University Centre

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to our 2016 Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies Conference in September. It would be wonderful if you could spend the entire conference with us so that real dignity-family-building can emerge. All our events are part of an ongoing effort to nurture a global dignity community. However, it is also possible to participate only in our Public Town Hall meeting or only in the workshop portion of our event.

Please see the following information provided to kindly help you develop your plans for participating. Also, we encourage you to check the conference webpage for the latest updates.

Conference Description

Urban habitations have increasingly experienced threats and vulnerabilities to environmental disaster, in addition to unsustainable planning and development. City populations worldwide experience humiliation in a myriad of ways, ranging from systemic economic injustice to terrorism and warfare. This conference aims to create global partnerships for change and produce knowledge about the crucially important historical times we live in. Our challenge is to create a world in which people can enjoy a dignified life.

We want to express our special appreciation to Kjell Skyllstad, a longtime member of the HumanDHS Advisory Board, for his leadership in support of our 2016 HumanDHS Conference in Croatia. It will be arranged cooperatively at the Inter-University Center (ICU) in Dubrovnik with the support of the World Dignity University initiative, in collaboration with the University of Oslo, Norway, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Important Information and Dates:

If you would like to join us, please submit your introductory information (e.g., contact information, CV, or papers) to: conferences@humiliationstudies.org.
If you wish to register or contribute with a paper to the Public Lectures on Thursday and Friday, the deadline is 15th May 2016. Please see the Call for Papers. Please note that the sub-themes suggested there are advisory only. Please include a short note about yourself. The conference program is expected to be sent out on 15th June. 15th May is also the deadline for submitting papers to the peer-reviewed Journal of Urban Culture Research, and accepted papers will be published this year.
We do not charge registrations fees for our events. We share responsibility for this conference by dividing the expenses equally and inviting all participants to contribute according to their ability. The Inter-University Centre (IUC) Dubrovnik depends on a contribution of 40 Euro from each participant of the conference for the utility, operational, and technical costs.

Thank you for making your travel and accommodation plans soon. Please see the conference webpage for details.
Please complete your "Appreciative Introduction" (Word/PDF) and email to the address above, or bring it with you.


Kjell Skyllstad

Thanking Our Local Hosts, Organisers, and Conveners

Please join us in warmly thanking all who
have made this conference possible, including...

Kjell Skyllstad, visiting Professor at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Urban Culture Research (JUCR): http://www.cujucr.com.

Hilde Kvam, Associate Professor at the Department of Art and Media Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.

Celine Motzfeldt Loades, PhD Candidate at the Centre for Development and Environment of the University in Oslo, Norway.

The Inter-University Center (ICU) is an independent international institution for advanced studies.

Our Conference Agenda as It Evolves

Pre-Conference for Early Arrivers

Sunday, 18th September

Dubrovnik City Walk: Discover the Old Town

We plan to meet at 17.00 for coffee at the small restaurant at the entrance to IUC which is very close to the Pile area (Brsalje 11) where all the buses meet, right before the main city entrance. It costs 14 Euro, please book well ahead of time! After the walk it is time for a communal meal at the old harbour.

The Ston Wall Marathon

The marathon is an alternative for those interested in adding to their once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It costs 38 Euro, please make your personal registration starting from the 1st May.

This conference is being developed in three stages:

1. Workshop with Dignilogues
Monday - Wednesday, 19th - 21st September

Inter-University Center (IUC), Don Frana Bulica 4, Dubrovnik, big classroom.

Together, we will explore the threats to our cities worldwide and the increasing humiliation
that often effects the majority of the population in affected cities.

2. Public Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, 22nd September

Inter-University Center (IUC), Don Frana Bulica 4, Dubrovnik, big conference hall.

With the citizens of Dubrovnik, we will explore the situation for the cities in South Eastern Europe through the medium of a Town Hall meeting, with special focus on common problems of contemporary living, prospects for the future, and recommendations for collective initiatives.

3. Researcher Meeting

Friday, 23rd September

Inter-University Center (IUC), Don Frana Bulica 4, Dubrovnik, big classroom.

We will explore and share with researchers experiences and models for future urbanism based on dignity for all, following up on the 2015 conference, summing up the conference, and planning ahead.

Optional Post-Conference Excursion

Saturday, 24th September: Excursion from Dubrovnik to Mostar-Sarajevo

Sunday, 25th September: Possible boat trip in the Dubrovnik archipelago

Welcome Everyone!