Human Rights

Human rights are an important subject for AIJA, and AIJA is committed to actively defend fundamental principles of human rights. AIJA’s human rights efforts are steered through the Human Rights Committee. The Human Rights Committee also organises the Voice of the Profession session at each Annual Congress at which human rights topics are presented and discussed, thereby raising awareness of such topics among the members of AIJA.

The Human Rights Committee is handling, alone or in co-operation with relevant National Representative(s), the Bureau, the Executive Committee, or other Commissions, all matters related to AIJA’s involvement in human rights. The Human Rights Committee prepares reports and analyses documents regarding these issues.

AIJA is also represented within the UN, as AIJA has been granted the consultative status by the economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the so-called ECOSOC. This status is based on article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations and on ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. It enables qualifying organisations to make a contribution to the work programs and goals of the United Nations by serving as technical experts, advisors and consultants to governments and secretariats. In specific terms, this entails their participation in ECOSOC and its various subsidiary bodies through attendants at these meetings, and also through oral interventions and written statements on agenda items of those bodies. The ECOSOC is therefore the first avenue by which non-governmental organisations can take a role in formal UN deliberations.

Get involved

Discover more about the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
Discover more about SOS Avocats.

Human Rights Committee

Upcoming events

Milan Event 759 In-person Event
14-17 May 2025

Half-Year May Conference

AntitrustBanking, Finance and Capital MarketsCorporate and M&A+7
Read more
Washington D.C. Event 760 In-person Event
25-30 August 2025

63rd International Young Lawyers' Congress

AntitrustBanking, Finance and Capital MarketsBusiness Crime and Civil Fraud+16
Read more
Hamburg Event 779 In-person Event
03-06 December 2025

Half-Year December Conference

AntitrustCorporate and M&AEnvironmental and Energy Law+8
Read more
Rule of Law Webathon

The universal commitment of the world’s lawyers to the Rule of Law inspired AIJA HRC (International Association of Young Lawyers - Human Rights Committee), UIA IROL (Union Internationale des Avocats - Institute for the Rule of Law), ABA-SIL (American Bar Association – Section of International Law) to join forces and launch the Rule of Law Webathon in 2021 and continue it in 2022, including IABA (Inter-American Bar Association) as well. You can see the recordings of the sessions and panel on the YouTube channel here.

Our pledge to the Rule of Law inspires us to celebrate and defend it in every corner of the world.

Videos

13.05.2022
AIJA-TRIAL Talks on Human rights #3
19.04.2022
AIJA-TRIAL Talks on Human rights #2
05.04.2022
AIJA-TRIAL Talks on Human rights #1
31.03.2022
AIJA webinar on 'Transparency and Individuals' Privacy: a matter of human rights?'
25.02.2022
INTERPOL: What has it achieved and what does its future look like from a human rights' perspective?
21.01.2022
AIJA webinar on 'International sanctions and human rights: An impossible marriage?'
14.07.2021
AIJA's 59th Birthday World Tour Challenge
23.08.2020
AIJA 58th Congress - Opening session
21.08.2020
AIJA 58th birthday world tour challenge

Get involved

Membership is open to AIJA members only.

If you’d like to become a partner or have an idea of a project, please contact the co-chairs of the AIJA Women Network.

Contact the Co-chairs

Michel SEGERS
Co-chair
MVVP
Avenue de Tervueren 270
1150 Brussels
BELGIUM
Charlotte Tregunna
Co-chair
Peters & Peters
15 Fetter Lane
EC4A 1BW London
UNITED KINGDOM
Silvia VAN SCHAIK
Co-chair
bureau Brandeis
Sophialaan 8
1075BR Amsterdam
NETHERLANDS