Challenges and the Future of Minority and Indigenous Rights Protection Conference

This conference will reflect on the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and the need to fundamentally rethink and recommit to their protection.

Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, several international legal instruments have been created to protect minority and indigenous rights. Notable instruments include the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, considered the foundation of many other related treaties and declarations which have followed them. In addition to these instruments, treaties and declarations have also been made at the regional and national levels, incorporating international principles while also taking into account the specific needs of the minority and indigenous people within the regions which they are intended to protect.
 
This two and a half -day in person conference will take a moment to assess the contributions and challenges these instruments and other types of solutions have brought vis a vis minority and indigenous communities, which these instruments are seeking to provide redress and protection for. This conference will reflect on the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and the need to fundamentally rethink and recommit to their protection. It aims to foster inclusive dialogue among and with academics, practitioners, and members of these communities to enhance existing conversations in these areas and to specifically look into emerging areas which are of importance in these communities. 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of topic areas which may be suitable for this conference:

• self-determination
• land rights
• economic, social and cultural rights (including linguistic rights)
• civil and political rights (including free speech, free expression, and freedom of association)
• governance
• artificial intelligence and other forms of technology
• data sovereignty
• traditional knowledge cultural heritage
• citizenship and recognition and identity issues

A draft conference programme will be available by 1 December 2024.

Call for papers

Full paper deadlines and other logistical information will be provided after acceptance. We are exploring a publication opportunity of all papers which are accepted at this conference either in an edited volume or journal. 

The deadline for abstract submissions has now closed.

Sponsor this conference

If you are interested in sponsoring this conference or have any other questions, please contact: cnsgathers@cnsintl.net.

Contact us

Contact us at MIRP2025@stir.ac.uk.

More information on Congress of Nations and States.