Toward a semiotics of human rights in university extension practices from the perspective of the UN's 17 SDG (Sustainable Development Goals)

• Grant number: 24/02894-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Communications - Theory of Communication
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Roberto Chiachiri Filho
• Grantee: Antonio Roberto Chiachiri Filho
• Host Institution: Diretoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Metodista de São Paulo (UMESP). Instituto Metodista de Ensino Superior (IMS). São Bernardo do Campo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project focuses on the intersection of language and communication with human rights and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Emphasizing the crucial role of language in shaping social life, it explores how communication, especially in journalism, advertising, public relations, media, and the internet, contributes to the recognition of individuals as human beings. The approach involves not only analyzing communication theories and concepts but also understanding the processes and products of communication, with an emphasis on the technical ability to collect and disseminate information.The communication for human rights and SDGs goes beyond reporting events; it actively engages with underlying causes, provides solidarity, and plays a role in offering information to alleviate suffering and protect the dignity of those affected by social injustices. In this context, semiotics becomes imperative, highlighting the role of sign production and management. The study delves into contemporary languages and media, analyzing their role in addressing issues such as prejudice, racism, religious intolerance, xenophobia, sexism, refugee situations, migration, environmental concerns, war, extreme poverty (hunger, housing, sanitation, health), health crises, gender issues, and various forms of violence.The goal is to understand how the communicative process can motivate practical actions from its interpreters-those affected by the communication. The research aims to comprehend the production of signs related to humanism, focusing on alterity and empathy concepts, and explores the prominent role of semiotic science in this task. Additionally, it seeks to identify the communicative effectiveness of informative and formative materials used in formal and informal education, emphasizing the importance of conveying credibility not only through content but also through the form, structure, and composition of these materials.This collaborative research involves students, teachers, and researchers working within a university-based research group, fostering national and international exchanges and collaborations. The ultimate goal is to enhance and encourage practical applications, particularly in university extension programs, treating extension as cooperation, collaboration, and exchanges between parties. (AU)