Programme of the Conference
Registration is required to attend the Conference at the following online form: https://forms.gle/7Bo86h9h97Jipf9d8
Monday, 19th October 2026
9:30-10:00 Archivio Antico, Palazzo del Bo
Opening remarks
Marco Mascia, President of Human Rights Centre “A. Papisca”, Unesco Chair "Human Rights, Democracy and Peace", University of Padova
Pietro de Perini, Coordinator of the Conference’s Scientific Committee, Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies, University of Padova
Sara Pennicino, Director of the MA Degree in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance, University of Padova
10:00-12:30 Archivio Antico, Palazzo del Bo
Plenary Session
Chair and short introduction
Gerd Oberleitner, UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Human Security, University of Graz
Speakers
Alison Brysk, University of California, Santa Barbara
Dianah Msipa, University of Pretoria
Valentina Carraro, University of Leiden
12:30-14:00 (Basilica, Palazzo del Bo) Conference Lunch
14:30-16:00 Human Rights Centre, Via Beato Pellegrino, 34
Parallel Research Panels, track A
PANEL 1A
New technologies and participation in human rights monitoring - track A
Chairs
Peter Johansson, School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, and Damien Short, Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Speakers
Carrie McAlinden, independent researcher
Locating the human in human rights monitoring: Evidence and authority after Gaza
Clelia Vettori, Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca”, University of Padova
Resisting the Brave New World: The Contribution of Open Verification Investigative Work to Human Rights Monitoring in Palestine
Alina Gentimir, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
Beyond Legitimacy: Institutional Resilience as the New Paradigm for International Criminal Justice
Sara Comba, University of Padova
Can OSINT-derived spatio-temporal sequencing of strikes establish individuated intent and knowledge under Article 8 of the Rome Statute?
Bruno Roque-Younes, University of the Joinville Region – Univille; Raquel Alvarenga Sena Venera, University of the Joinville Region – Univille
Listening Through Algorithms: Children's Digital Testimonies and Human Rights Monitoring in Gaza
PANEL 2A
The Contribution of New Social Movements and Youth Activism to Human Rights Monitoring and the 2050 Agenda
Chairs
Magdalena Ratajczak and Marta Ryniejska-Kiełdanowicz, Institute of International Studies, University of Wroclaw
Speakers
Francesco Tommasi, Università degli Studi di Milano - UniMi
Violence and (dis)human rights: Toward the right of grievability and nonviolent public-a(c)tions
Albright Alitsi, Lola Crotchet Organization
Feminist Leadership and Youth Activism in Reimagining Human Rights Monitoring
John Duncan, School of Advanced Studies, University of London
From Lemkin to Life-making: Bridging Critical Genocide Studies and Social Reproduction Theory
Katarina Velkov, University of Padova
Youth-led climate litigation and human rights monitoring
Christine D Nanteza, SET Europe; Vanessa Cugnetto, SET Europe; Anna Gruber, Collective Aid
The Impact of Youth-Led Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy in the European Union: Case studies from Collective Aid and SET Europe
PANEL 3A
Monitoring human rights in difficult times: CSO and community innovations for reporting human rights violations
Chair
Piergiuseppe Parisi, Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York
Speakers
Ana Carolina Marques Castiglio, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Co-Constructing Human Rights Monitoring: Civil Society and the Inter-American Human Rights System in Brazil
Ilgar Seyidov, Atilim University; Asuman Ozgur Keysan, Atilim University; Beris Artan Ozoran, Ankara University
Organizational Capacity as a Condition of Civic Action: Funding, Communication and Rights Advocacy in Turkey
Mahmoud Mwafi, Institute of Arab Research and Studies
Gaza as a Stress Test for International Human Rights Monitoring: Community Knowledge, Documentation, and the Monitoring–Protection Gap
Houjeij Bassema, Arcadia World – Engineering & Design Consultancy
Inclusive Urban Planning as a Tool for Advancing Human Rights: Accessibility, Basic Services and Equal Access to Opportunity
PANEL 4A
Anti-Gender Norm Antipreneurs: Institutional Backlash and the Future of Women's Rights Monitoring
Chair
Anh Nguyen, Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca”, University of Padova
Speakers
Elina Rancane, University of Latvia
When ‘Gender’ Becomes the Problem: Anti-Gender Mobilisation and the Institutional Monitoring of Women’s Rights in Latvia
Carlos Eduardo Barzotto, University of Western Ontario
Monitoring the Institutionalization of Exclusionary Parental Rights Rhetoric in Anti-Gender Brazilian Educational Policies at the State Level (2015–2025)
Xinyao Li, Leiden University
“Agreed Language” in the UN Human Rights Council: Reframing Women’s Rights
Stacy Ogembo, Technical University of Darmstadt
Making Standards Work? Compliance with CEDAW Committee Recommendations on Gender-Based Violence in Namibia and South Africa
Ghizlane Azendour, Ibn Tofail University
When Rights Mean Different Things: Anti-Gender Norm Contestation and Institutional Mediation in the Universal Periodic Review
16:45-18:15 Human Rights Centre, via Beato Pellegrino, 34
Parallel Research Panels, track B
PANEL 1B
New technologies and participation in human rights monitoring - track B
Chairs
Peter Johansson, School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, and Damien Short, Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Speakers
Dana Shdeed, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Governing AI for Human Rights Monitoring: Towards Mission Coherence in AI Adoption by NGOs
Doug Specht, University of Westminster
Only What Is Recorded Can Be Rebuilt: algorithmic visibility, participatory counter-mapping and the right to be seen in Ukraine
Abraham Ename Minko, Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences - University of Yaoundé II
From Witnesses to Stakeholders: Digital Participation, Algorithmic Legitimacy, and the Future of Community-Led Human Rights Monitoring in Africa
Martin Crook, University of the West of England
New Technologies for Human Rights Monitoring: Illuminating or mystifying?
PANEL 2B
UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies reform in the context of the UN80 process: liquidity or political crisis?
Chair
Rossella De Falco, University of Antwerp, Law and Development Research Group
Speakers
Anna Cichecka, University of Wrocław
The African Group’s Perspective on the Global Human Rights System in Times of Crisis
Diego Ernesto Sanchez Borjas, Pompeu Fabra University
The legal value of UNTB pronouncements for the interpretation of International Human Rights Treaties at domestic level: An opportunity in the middle of a crisis?
Azar Shahabiamiri, University of Naples Federico II
Gender-sensitive monitoring of the right to adequate food: gaps and opportunities for reform in the UN human rights treaty body system
Katarzyna Widlas-Klimsiak, Poznań Human Rights Centre - Institute of Legal Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences
The CRPD Committee and Mental Health Law: Rethinking Effectiveness of Human Rights Monitoring
Aristi Volou, City Law School, University of London
From Views to Compliance: Rethinking CESCR Follow-Up through Spain’s Housing Rights Cases
PANEL 3B
Monitoring human rights in difficult times: Indigenous peoples’ perspectives on reporting human rights violations
Chair
Corinne Lennox, Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Speakers
María Victoria Bravi, National University of Rosario
The Q'eqchi' Mayan language as a human rights monitor: the Jalok U’ Collective in the Sepur Zarco case, Guatemala
Valentina Viviani, Unione Internazionale per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile - UNISOS
New technologies and participation in human rights monitoring
The Digital Defense of Wallmapu: Technological tools and participatory activism
Sarah Capes, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Human Rights Unmonitored: Witnessing and Reporting in the Absence of Human Rights Architecture at UNFCCC
Estefany Rocha Monteiro, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights; Marianne Barreto Fonseca Antunes de Oliveira, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
Provenance and Authority in UN Human Rights Monitoring: Epistemic Traceability and the Institutional Translation of Indigenous Knowledge
PANEL 4B
The contribution of National Human Rights Institutions and local action to the UN Human Rights System
Chair
Gerd Oberleitner , UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Human Security, University of Graz
Speakers
Stefano Montanari, independent researcher
Bridging the Implementation Gap: NHRIs as Normative Intermediaries of Public Accountability
Eve Papastamouli, independent researcher
National Human Rights Institutions as regulators monitoring human rights compliance by business enterprises: The Australian Human Rights Commission as the positive duty regulator
Renato Ongania, University of Bologna
From the Italian Comune to the United Nations: Towards a Framework for Local Minority-Rights Monitoring
Alain-Guy Sipowo, University of Montreal
Regionalised Universal Jurisdiction as an Infrastructure of Resilience for the International Criminal Court: Lessons from the African Union Model Law
Molefhi Phorego, Stellenbosch University
The Role of Human Rights Commissions in Monitoring the Right to Health: Perspectives From Botswana
21:00, Sala dei Giganti
Concert "Cantare l'umano"
In honor of the guests at the International Conference.
Musical program
Music by Bowie, Simon, Dylan, Jackson, and others;
Concentus Musicus Patavinus Chamber Choir; Gaudeamus Choir of Concentus Musicus Patavinus; Mortalisatis Choir;
Antonio Bortolami, piano;
Ignacio Vazzoler, conductor
Tuesday, 20th October 2026
09:30-12:00 Aula Nievo, Palazzo Bo
Closing Plenary Roundtable
Human Rights Monitoring Reloaded – Challenges and Ideas from a Practitioner’s Viewpoint
Chairs
Pietro de Perini, Coordinator of the Conference’s Scientific Committee, Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies, University of Padova
Clelia Vettori, Human Rights Centre ‘Antonio Papisca’, University of Padova
Speakers
Michael Windfuhr, UN Committee of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and German Institute for Human Rights
Maja Spanu, ARIADNE - European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights (video-conference)
Mohamed Kheir, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - UPR branch
Fabiana Leibl, International Service for Human Rights
Desirée Campagna, PTSClas
On the afternoon of October 19, self-managed groups of students from the MA Degree Programme in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (HRG) will hold a booth to promote their activities to participants. The groups include the Student Engagement Team (SET), the Advocacy Hub and the Latin-American Collective.
Furthermore, an activity will be organised to provide a hands-on introduction to selected articles of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will be printed and displayed for participants. After clarifying their meaning, participants will engage in a practical exercise aimed at "deconstructing" these articles, illustrating the gap that can exist between the formal provisions of a convention and its actual implementation.