Identity is a central theme in contemporary politics, but legal academia lacks a rigorous analysis of this concept. This research aims to: 1) reveal presumptions on identity in human rights law by mapping how the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handles identity claims; 2) analyse these presumptions using theoretical insights on identity. The multidisciplinary methodology consists of a comprehensive discursive analysis of ECtHR cases which mention identity (n=2,158) and a deconstructionist reading of the ECtHR’s use of identity. The findings contribute an innovative legal analysis of identity, initiating an informed discussion on the role of identity in human rights.

The research project aims to disentangle the bi-directional relationship between womens empowerment and family planning. On the one hand, labour market participation directly affects womens financial independence and consequently their decision-making power and economic autonomy. On the other hand, the ability of women to influence family planning decisions is strongly influenced by their economic and sexual empowerment. The objective of this multidisciplinary research is to conduct two independent but interrelated studies in Mozambique: 1) A quantitative Sexual Behaviour Diaries (SBD) study on women who do not want to become pregnant within the next 12 months with the objective to examine how womens empowerment status, negotiation skills and awareness in combination with specific social and economic circumstances affect consistent use of family planning methods. To identify effects this study will be combined with a randomized control intervention of a Family Planning program. 2) A quantitative Socio-Economic Diaries (SED) study conducted among pregnant women with the objective to determine how a new born child affects consumption and savings behaviour within the household, female labour market participation, time allocation of (female) household members and nutritional intake. The use of high-frequency quantitative diary data is an innovative method to gain detailed insight into sexual and socio-economic behaviour. The two studies will be preceded by a qualitative study with the objective to determine perceptions, attitudes and barriers towards family planning, fertility and intra-household bargaining. This will allow for a cultural assessment of how much (perceived) power women have over their sexual and reproductive health and their socio-economic preferences. The three studies are fully supported by several stakeholders who will fund a large majority of the data collection. Their involvement ensures that findings will directly feed back into the design of family planning programmes. Research will be conducted in line with international ethical standards and procedures.

In Afghanistan evaluation research is called upon to assess the effects of foreign intervention. Engaging in such research, however, is hardly straightforward. This project seeks to map what it practically entails to draft questionnaires, do interviews, analyze data, write reports, and present recommendations. Combining ethnographic methods with rigorous analysis, we will articulate what each of these research steps requires and engenders in the intractable Afghan context. While important in its own right, our detailed study of a limited set of Afghan cases will also feed into more general discussions on what indicator-based governance is and may hope to be.

Bangladesh is fast urbanizing with an estimated 35% to be now considered inhibiting major cities and tertiary towns. Youth population of over 30 million is leading internal migration for work and education bringing about monumental socio-economic changes in the country. The established development paradigm prioritized rural development, focusing on poor youth population and their limited to no access to health, legal, and social services. Urban middle-class are under-served, falling through the cracks between interventions exclusively for the poor and non-accessible high-cost private services. A number of assumptions and myths surround the growing urban middle class youth and their social safety needs. There is limited understanding of what this population want and how they are accessing services given strong stigmatization and general lack of information on especially issues of sexuality, sex education, and reproductive health and well-being. The Maya platform creates a unique space whereby for the first time this digitally and in many instances, economically empowered yet socially limited urban youth have a platform to place their questions anonymously, without the fear of being judged for their decisions and choices. These questions indicate that young people across the socio-economic spectrum face similar challenges when accessing SRHR information and services, yet urban middle-income youth are completely missing from the equation. By using the anonymous and non-judgmental Maya platform, we can better access on the ground burning questions and issues that is affecting the lives of urban youth in Bangladesh.

The Corona outbreak has led to unprecedented measures in education: since March 16, schools are closed. Children must keep up with their schoolwork from home. Parents are expected to take a crucial role in this “homeschooling”: they are responsible for ensuring that their children follow the curriculum. In this project we gather new survey data to map how parents (are able to) to help their children with their study, and investigate how the school shutdown affects social inequality in education.