AHRI Conference 2023 “Human Rights Defenders Under Siege”, September 7-9 2023- Bilbao

The Pedro Arrupe Institute of Human Rights of the University of Deusto will host the 2023 International Conference of the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI). The event will take place between 7 and 9 September at the University of Deusto in Bilbao.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Despite these legal instruments, human rights defenders are increasingly under risk, as it has been dramatically underlined by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. In this context, the AHRI Conference aims to offer a space for exchange of critical views and best practices.

A call for papers has been issued to invite scholars, human rights defenders, and institutional representatives to contribute reflecting on this topic by submitting an abstract for one the following 4 thematic panels:

-Who is afraid of HRDs? Taking stock of the achievements and shortcomings of the UN Declaration on HRDs;

-Shrinking space for civil society: barriers and drivers for the defence of human rights;

-The role of academia in the support to HRDs;

-Public policies and normative frameworks for the protection of HRDs.

An abstract of 500 words has to be submitted to ahri2023@deusto.es;it must contain the preferred thematic panel and the following information:

-name and affiliation of the author(s);

-Contact details, including email address and phone number;

-a short Bio.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts is Friday 21st April 2023. Applicants will be informed of the scientific Committee’s decision no later than Friday 12 May 2023. Successful applicants are expected to submit a paper of 4.000-6.000 words no later than 30 June 2023.

The Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI), is a network of over 80 (and growing) member institutes that carries out research and educational activities in the field of human rights. The member institutes are from over 30 different countries spanning all continents. AHRI’s objective is to bring together human rights researchers from across the disciplines, to facilitate the exchange of ideas and collaboration, and to promote research, education and discussion in the field of human rights.

Last update

6/4/2023