2026 Human Rights Essay Award – Apply Now

Submissions for the 2026 Human Rights Essay Award are actually open. The Award, organized by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law, seeks to advertise high-quality tutorial writing within the discipline of worldwide human rights regulation. Each 12 months, the competitors acknowledges excellent authorized scholarship in each English and Spanish, encouraging authorized professionals and students to contribute rigorous, impactful evaluation on a particular human rights theme.

2026 Theme: The Right to Protest underneath International Human Rights Law: Legal Protection and Challenges Ahead

Submission Deadline: February 3, 2026

Participants might write on any matter immediately associated to the theme, together with points resembling home regulation, criminalization of protest, redress mechanisms, root causes of restrictions, state obligations, and comparative authorized evaluation. Submissions should align with the theme to be thought of.

This matter may also be featured within the thirty first Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition (May 18–22, 2026). Essay Award individuals are eligible to function judges within the Moot Court.

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About the Award

Two winners—one for one of the best article in English and one in Spanish—will obtain:

• Full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
  (Diploma or Certificate of Attendance; journey and dwelling bills not included)

• Potential publication within the American University International Law Review, a number one journal that publishes work from international students, judges, and authorized professionals.

• Opportunity to contribute to advancing authorized debate on the proper to protest inside democratic societies.

 

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About the Topic

Around the world, illegal restrictions on the proper to protest have elevated, regardless of worldwide authorized protections. Historically, protest actions have performed a decisive position in advancing social justice, democratic change, and the safety of rights. Strengthening authorized safeguards for this proper is crucial to sustaining accountability, dignity, and the rule of regulation.

Essays might discover the subject from a number of angles, together with:

• Domestic and worldwide authorized frameworks

• Criminalization of protest and misuse of state authority

• Accountability and redress mechanisms

• Root causes of violations

• Comparative regional approaches

• Intersection with humanitarian or felony regulation

The Award seeks to broaden rigorous tutorial evaluation on how worldwide regulation can higher shield people and communities exercising the proper to protest.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should:

• Hold a regulation diploma (LL.B., J.D., or equal)

• Demonstrate expertise or curiosity in worldwide human rights regulation

• Write on a subject immediately associated to the 2026 theme

• Submit an instructional authorized article with correct citations and sources
  (Articles not assembly tutorial requirements will probably be disqualified)

 

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How to Apply

Applicants should submit their essays and required supplies immediately by way of the official Human Rights Essay Award portal.

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The 2026 Human Rights Essay Award invites authorized students and practitioners worldwide to contribute unique tutorial work exploring the proper to protest underneath worldwide human rights regulation. With two full-tuition scholarships out there and the potential for publication in a number one worldwide regulation journal, the Award provides a big alternative for rising and established authorized professionals dedicated to advancing human rights scholarship. Eligible regulation graduates are inspired to submit their work by February 3, 2026.

This award will not be linked to the LL.M. application course of at American University. Those thinking about LL.M. packages should apply individually.

For extra particulars or questions, contact: humanrightsessay@wcl.american.edu
(Expect a response inside 48–72 enterprise hours)

Official info and Award rules can be found on the Academy’s web site.

For extra alternatives, click on right here.

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