AHRI Conference 2026

The 2026 Annual Conference of the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both adopted in 1966. Additionally, it marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The conference is co-organized by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, in collaboration with the Law Department of the Geneva Graduate Institute, the Law Faculty of the University of Geneva, and the Global Campus of Human Rights.

The conference will focus on the enduring contributions and challenges associated with these significant human rights instruments and institutions. Key topics will include the implementation and impact of the ICCPR and ICESCR over the past six decades, the role and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council since its inception, and contemporary challenges in the field of human rights. Sessions will feature discussions on the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the Human Rights Council's initiatives and mechanisms.

The event will offer various networking opportunities, including a standing dinner cocktail event, which requires separate registration and fee. A limited number of scholarships will be available for young scholars from the Global South to support their participation, covering registration fees and, for those attending in person, accommodation costs for up to three nights. The conference will be held as a hybrid event, allowing participants to engage either in person in Geneva or remotely via a virtual meeting platform.

This conference is ideal for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, diplomats, researchers, independent human rights specialists, and members of civil society organizations. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the legacies and future challenges of key human rights instruments and institutions, engage in critical discussions, and expand their professional networks within the global human rights community.