HEC Paris Welcomes Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk for Human Rights Day
On 10 December, the world commemorates Human Rights Day, marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At HEC Paris, this date resonates deeply with our commitment to quality education and to supporting students from conflict-affected regions, notably through the HEC Imagine Fellowship. This year, the commemoration took on a special significance.
On 9 December 2025, thanks to the work and collaboration of HEC Imagine and HEC Debats, HEC Paris had the honor of welcoming Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian human rights lawyer, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In a powerful address, she reminded the audience that human rights are not abstract principles but a lived responsibility—one carried by each individual.
Her message was clear and compelling
The foundation of our existence is dignity, not victimhood, and dignity is action.
A Call to Responsibility and Civic Courage
During her conference, Oleksandra Matviichuk delved into the crucial role played by civil society in protecting peace and defending human rights amid global turbulence. Drawing from her extensive experience documenting war crimes, advocating for democratic freedoms, and amplifying the voices of survivors, she offered a compelling reflection on what it means to act with dignity in times of war.
She traced her journey from grassroots activism in Ukraine to international recognition, highlighting the strategies, resilience, and collective courage required to ensure accountability and justice. Her intervention emphasized three core pillars: solidarity, advocacy, and civic engagement—tools every citizen and organization can wield to build more just and peaceful societies.
The event sparked thoughtful dialogue among students, faculty, and staff, reinforcing the essential role of business schools in shaping leaders who understand the intersection of responsibility, rights, and global challenges.
A Year Rich in Human Rights Engagement at HEC Paris
Oleksandra Matviichuk’s visit concluded a year marked by numerous activities and learning initiatives dedicated to human rights—reflecting the school’s belief that responsible leadership requires both knowledge and action.
January: Business & Peace Academy
During an intensive three-week academy, M1 students explored responsible business conduct in conflict zones. They exchanged with global experts, including Ukrainian scholar Olena Uvarova and former UK Ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman, deepening their understanding of the role businesses can play in fragile contexts.
Spring: Insights from U.S. Diplomacy
HEC welcomed Michael Posner, NYU professor and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Drawing on his book Conscience Incorporated, he discussed how companies can align profit-making with human rights imperatives—an impactful session for students enrolled in various Business & Human Rights courses.
At the same time, a selected group of students joined the first HEC–Schneider Electric Business & Human Rights Research Clinic, collaborating over several months on real-world corporate responsibility challenges.
Summer & Fall: Creative Engagement and Global Collaboration
In August, students took part in a two-day creative challenge, producing short social-media-ready videos to popularize key human rights and business dilemmas.
In September, HEC co-organized a “wicked problems” hackathon in Bangkok during the UN Responsible Business & Human Rights Forum, gathering a hundred business students from across the Asia-Pacific region. Back on campus, professionals in Executive Education engaged with a thought-provoking cartoon exhibition on forced labor, sparking conversations on visual storytelling as a tool for awareness and change.
Thinking, Teaching, Acting—Every Day
At HEC Paris, our motto is think, teach, act. This philosophy applies to human rights not just on Human Rights Day, but every day. Oleksandra Matviichuk’s visit reaffirmed our collective responsibility to stand for dignity, justice, and peace—and to act accordingly.