Prof. Dr. Rosario Figari Layús dedicates her research and social commitment to the defense of human rights, scientific enlightenment, and the promotion of justice and peace, especially in Latin America. She conducted research there in contexts of extreme violence and discrimination and at the same time worked tirelessly to make the voices of victims heard and defend their rights. During her studies in Buenos Aires, she interviewed relatives of missing persons and survivors of illegal imprisonment and torture for a research project on the crimes of the military dictatorship in Argentina. She later researched paramilitary violence in Colombia and worked closely with victims of the armed conflict. This required not only courage, but also a high degree of ethical responsibility. "Ms. Layús always paid special attention to the protection and dignity of those affected in her research and ensured that they were able to benefit from the results as much as possible," jury member Prof. Dr. Florian Schweigert emphasized in his laudatory speech.
During her scientific work, Rosario Figari Layús realized more and more that the safety of researchers is often threatened in areas riddled with violence. This is why she and her colleagues founded the international network "Academicxs en Riesgo" in 2018, which helps to make the risk and threat situation in Latin America more visible internationally, promote options for support, and develop joint coping strategies. This network now comprises 200 members from 15 countries and continues to grow. Rosario Figari Layús has also been a member of the Advisory Board of the UNESCO Chair for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders for two years, where she is currently involved in the development of a "good practice" roadmap: By 2026, universities are to be given concrete tools to actively defend human rights and freedom of expression and create safe spaces for at-risk researchers. "Ms. Layús embodies Voltaire's ideals in an impressive way with her work, her perseverance, and her courage," laudator Florian Schweigert underlined. "Her willingness to stand up for freedom of expression, even when it becomes uncomfortable or even dangerous, is an indispensable role model in this day and age." Research on sensitive topics such as human rights, political violence, and social movements not only involved personal risks, but also required exceptional clarity and steadfastness, according to Prof. Dr. Florian Schweigert.
Rosario Figari Layús studied sociology at the University of Buenos Aires and political science at the Humboldt University in Berlin. She completed her doctorate at the Philipps University in Marburg on the topic of "The social impact of criminal trials for human rights violations in Argentina". The protection of human rights is one of the focal points of her academic work, as are peace and reconciliation research, transitional justice, political and gender-specific violence, and academic freedom. She currently holds a junior professorship for reconciliation research at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
The “Voltaire Prize for Tolerance, International Understanding and Respect for Differences”, sponsored by the Friede Springer Foundation, has been awarded by the University of Potsdam since 2017. Previous laureates include Turkish political scientist Dr. Hilal Alkan, who denounced the war in the Kurdish territories and the actions of the security forces against civilians and subsequently lost her job; Guatemalan sociologist Dr. Gladys Tzul Tzul, who is an activist for the rights of indigenous peoples in Central America; and the Afghan philosopher Ahmad Milad Karimi for his professional dedication as a mediator between cultures. The laureates also include media and IT law expert Gábor Polyák, honored for his tireless dedication to freedom of the press and the media in Hungary, as well as political scientist and human rights activist Elisabeth Kaneza. Further information on the award winners to date can be found at https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/voltaire-preis/index
The award ceremony took place at the New Year's reception of the University of Potsdam on January 29, 2025, on Griebnitzsee campus.
Photo: Prof. Dr. Rosario Figari Layús (Photo: private)
Photo 2: Voltaire Prize laureate Prof. Dr. Rosario Figari Layús with the laudator Prof. Dr. Florian Schweigert (center) and the President of the University of Potsdam, Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D. (Photo: Kevin Ryl)
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Media information 29-01-2025 / No. 008