Everyone has the right to food security, in peacetime and during armed conflict
Food security touches upon human rights, international law and sustainable development. These frameworks are not separate worlds but deeply interconnected; something that becomes painfully clear in times of climate crisis, armed conflict and inequality.
Academic dialogue with students
For the first time this autumn, professionals are invited to join the English-taught course 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Human Rights and International Law'. The course offers a unique opportunity: engaging in academic dialogue with students of Leiden University College (LUC). Lecturer Otto Spijkers is enthusiastic that professionals will now be able to participate and earn a recognised microcredential.
For those who want to make an impact
Spijkers: 'A legal background is valuable for this course, but not required. A role in policy, diplomacy, humanitarian aid or sustainable business also provides an excellent foundation.' The course addresses themes such as sustainability and human rights, drawing interest from policy officers at ministries, NGO advisers and banking professionals with a focus on sustainability. Spijkers explains: 'Major cross-border challenges affect food security, such as climate change, natural disasters and armed conflict. After this course, participants will be better equipped to address these challenges constructively, by gaining legal knowledge and learning how to apply it in practice.'
From courtroom to reality
The course links academic depth with practical application. Participants address current dilemmas around food security and human rights, including the catastrophic situation in Gaza, where civilians face deliberate starvation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, drought in Somalia and famine in Yemen. Spijkers points to the painful reality: 'In practice, principles often clash with political interests or logistical constraints. How can you make legally grounded choices that are both realistic and just?' Such questions are discussed in guest lectures. Visits will also be made to related institutions, such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
International law: a guiding framework
'International law is a living system that guides concrete choices.'
International law is the body of legal rules and principles regulating the relations between states, international organisations and, at times, individuals and non-state actors. This dynamic system brings together complex questions of human rights, sustainable development and conflict management. Spijkers explains: 'International law is not an abstract concept, but a living system. It offers rules on rights, duties, and responsibilities.'
Food as a human right and a tool of power
A central case in the course is Sustainable Development Goal 2: ending hunger. Spijkers: 'Food security is a core problem of our time. Choosing 'SDG 2, Zero Hunger' as a starting point opens up the broader conversation on human rights, human dignity, sustainable development, inequality and international justice related to food.'At the same time, food is often used as an instrument of power in geopolitical conflicts. 'Who decides what happens with food? And what is a government allowed to do during armed conflict?' Participants analyse legal frameworks such as international humanitarian law and translate these into their own work practices. Spijkers says: 'Think of aid organisations like the Red Cross, or governments that constantly have to navigate between law and reality. That is both the tension and the strength of this course.'
Knowledge that counts, in seven weeks
The course is part of the microcredential pilot programme and is offered as contract education at the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. Over seven intensive weeks, participants follow the programme and complete it with an assignment and exam. Spijkers: 'While there is a contrast between students and professionals, the exchange is mutually enriching: students draw on practical experience, while professionals are inspired by academic curiosity. That creates an interesting dynamic.'
Professionals who successfully complete the course receive a microcredential as an official certificate. This can be added to LinkedIn and a CV, and serves as a formal mini-diploma. Spijkers: 'Microcredentials provide academic depth without the need to commit to a lengthy degree. Combining professional experience with new knowledge yields valuable insights.'
New perspectives, lasting effect
'Legal structures provide direction and foster a sense of responsibility.'
Professionals from a wide range of sectors come together with a shared goal: contributing to a more just world. “They discover how legal structures can shape and support their work,” explains Spijkers. He emphasises that the course aims to leave participants with a stronger sense of direction and to foster responsibility, as well as the confidence to use legal tools for real transformation. As Spijkers puts it: 'Whether you draft legislation, negotiate on behalf of your country or coordinate food programmes in crisis situations, your choices matter.'
Find out more
The course SDGs, Human Rights and International Law will start on 28 October 2025.
Registration