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2026 Human Rights Essay Award

The call for submissions for the 2026 Human Rights Essay Award is now open!

2026 Topic: 

The right to protest under international human rights law: legal protection and challenges ahead

The Human Rights Essay Award is an annual award sponsored by the Academy aimed at encouraging the production of academic articles in the field of international human rights law. The topic for the 2026 will be: The right to protest under international human rights law: legal protection and challenges ahead. 

Participants have the flexibility to choose any subject related to this topic. However, the scope of the essay must directly correspond to the 2026 theme, or it will be disqualified. Additionally, we would like to note that we believe international human rights law includes international humanitarian law and international criminal law.

Essay Award Announcement. 2026


ABOUT THE TOPIC

The Academy has chosen the topic, “The Right to Protest under international human rights law: legal protection and challenges ahead.” In recent years, many countries have seen an increase in unlawful restrictions on this right despite its universally recognized protections. Historically, the right to protest has been a decisive instrument for securing social progress and democratic transformation. Its protection is not only fundamental to international human rights law, but also essential to ensuring that states remain obligated to respect and safeguard individual rights and liberties. This issue can be explored from multiple perspectives, including domestic regulation, criminal legislation, redress mechanisms, and root causes, among others.

It is noteworthy that this same topic will be addressed during our 31st Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition, which will take place from May 18 to May 22, 2026.

This year, we have partnered with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, (https://rfkhumanrights.org/), to create a complex and cutting-edge case. Participants in the Essay Award are eligible to be judges in the Moot Court Competition.

Our commitment to fostering human rights education and encouraging the production of academic articles aims to enhance the analysis of this pressing topic and to contribute to more effective legal frameworks and stronger protections for all individuals seeking to exercise their right to protest, as is necessary and expected in democratic societies governed by the rule of law.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Academy will grant two Awards: one for the best article in English and one for the best article in Spanish, each of which will consist of a full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law for either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance options (travel, housing and per diem living expenses are not included).

Additionally, the two best articles and the four honorable mentions may also be published in the American University International Law Review, which contains relevant and diverse academic material. This prestigious journal receives approximately 1,500 submissions each year and publishes legal research from professors, judges, lawyers, and renowned scholars.

*The Academy reserves the right to determine whether the 2026 Program or any of its classes will be held virtually if exceptional circumstances so require. 

Participants Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must hold a law degree, Juris Doctor, (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), or equivalent.

  • Shall have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law.  

  • Have the flexibility to choose any subject related to the 2026 topic: The right to protest under international human rights law: legal protection and challenges ahead.

  • Must keep in mind the essay must be a legal article citation sources. 

  • The submitted essay must be an academic legal article with proper citations and source references.

Important dates:

  • Deadline for submissions: February 3rd, 2026

  • Winners Announcement: April 1st, 2026

Difference between the award and our LL.M Program

We would like to remind you that the Human Rights Essay Award is a project offered by the Academy of Human Rights and International Law. The project is not related to the application process for our LL.M. programs, for which you need to follow all the steps outlined on our website at this link, which we encourage you to consult if you are interested.

Want to know more?

Click on the right menu to learn more about the Award regulations.

Contact us!

For more information, please contact us at humanrightsessay@wcl.american.edu. Allow 48 to 72 business hours for responses

We invite you all to keep visiting this page for more details on the 2026 Human Rights Essay Award!