Consortium partners sought for HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-02: Women's, LGBTIQ and minority rights in autocracy, conflict and geopolitical shifts

We are building a research consortium for HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-02: Women's, LGBTIQ and minority rights in a context of autocracy, conflict and geopolitical shifts (RIA, deadline 23 September 2027).

Our project examines how democratic regression reshapes civic space, rights protection, and participation for women, LGBTIQ communities, persons with disabilities, and minority groups — with particular attention to gender-based violence, restricted access to sexual and reproductive health rights, and digital repression in conflict and crisis settings. The comparative design covers a range of geopolitical contexts across Europe, including democratic erosion, post-conflict reconstruction, and authoritarian consolidation.

We are combining interdisciplinary social science with computational approaches and participatory co-production with affected communities and civil society organisations.

We have confirmed partners across several European countries covering political sociology, law, gender politics, anti-trafficking, disability rights, quantitative sociology, and civil society advocacy.

We are looking for partners with expertise in: (1) Computational social science / digital humanities — NLP, network analysis, digital trace methods, data visualisation and dashboard development. (2) GBV and SRHR research and policy — particularly in conflict and displacement settings, including prevention and response strategies for public administration and law enforcement. (3) Country-specific academic or civil society expertise in the Western Balkans, Caucasus, or Western Europe — particularly researchers with strong knowledge of democratic governance, LGBTIQ rights, minority rights, or civic space in their national context. (4) Policymaker / international organisation engagement — advisory or associate partner roles.

We are also open to expressions of interest from researchers with complementary expertise who wish to join the consortium.

Contact: k.sharapov@napier.ac.uk