Scharffs is Guest Lecturer, Intersession Seminar on Religion and Human Rights, Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies, Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta

In July 2017, Professor Scharffs was a guest lecturer for a half-day in the first-of-its-kind Intersession Seminar on Religion and Human Rights at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Seminar, taught by Professor Zainal Bagir of the Graduate School of UGM and Dr. Suhadi of the Graduate School of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, introduces students to the many facets of the interface between the discourses of human rights, and in particular freedom of religion and belief, and how they have been understood by religious communities, and how they have been implemented in international, national, and local law. Professor Scharffs lectured on the drafting and background of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the meaning of UDHR’s Article 18, which addresses freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Other guest lecturers at the Seminar included Tore Lindholm, Renata Arianingtiyas, Lena Larsen, Mun’im Sirry, and Heiner Bielefeldt.