The goal of the conference is to discuss the theoretical and practical issues related to human rights in the world.

Among other things, we will discuss ways to protect human rights, the practical application of treaty and statutory regulations, as well as states that do not respect these rights.

The legal, social, economic, philosophical and political dimensions of human rights (both in a contemporary and historical perspective) will be discussed as well.

Please feel free to choose the topic of your presentation in line with your passion and expertise.

Topics may be of both contemporary and historical relevance, and touch upon all problems regardless of their geographical boundaries.

Panels of the conference will be arranged accordingly.

Proposed (sample) thematic areas of your conference presentation:

• Legal regulations protecting human rights
• What theoretical approaches best explain human rights?
• How do material and ideological factors influence and shape human rights and respective policies?
• What role might state and sub-state political actors play in supporting human rights internationally?
• How do transnational civil society networks affect states' human rights policies?
• What role do emerging powers play in driving the discourse on human rights internationally, and what are the similarities and differences between their positions?
• Actions that could help reach full achievement of the human right to science for populations experiencing discrimination or increased vulnerability due to political, economic and social structures, for historically marginalized communities (such as persons with disabilities), and for the other human rights connected to the right to science
• The human rights of students, scholars, academics and researchers in places where conflict, censorship, and/or structural forms of oppression or discrimination make it difficult for them to continue their work
• The human rights implications of climate change on impacted communities and examples of scientific-human rights partnerships to attain climate justice
• The use of scientific evidence and a transitional justice approach that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as vital to addressing human rights
• Human rights and healthcare
• Human rights and poverty
• Women's rights as human rights

The thematic areas indicated above are to be treated only as examples.

We strongly encourage you to go beyond them. In addition, the speeches may be interdisciplinary in nature, combining a variety of research fields.

We believe in freedom of academic discussion and do not censor speeches for worldview or political reasons. Original and unconventional speeches will always find recognition from the Conference Committee.

• Students, Ph.D. students, experienced researchers, practitioners, and all others interested in the above-indicated fields of research can actively participate in the conference as speakers.
• Passive participants (audience) do not need to possess any prior academic knowledge or background.

Presentations can be delivered in English or Polish.

• Prof. Elizabeth Zechenter (Emory University) – Chairman of the Conference Committee.
• Prof. Christopher Kelley, LL.M. (University of Arkansas School of Law) – Vice-Chairman of the Conference Committee.
• Prof. David Jones (professor emeritus, American Studies Center, University of Warsaw) – 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Conference Committee.
• Attorney Valery Loumber, J.D. (Gavrilov & Brooks, Sacramento/Los Angeles) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Dr. Wojciech Walczak (University of Bialystok) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Lilya Kurii, Ph.D. (Country Director of the Center for American Studies Ukraine; formerly: Khmelnytskyi National University).
• Luke Darby Bartosik, LL.M. (President of the Center for American & European Studies) – Secretary of the Conference Committee.

➤ ACTIVE PARTICIPATION (INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE SPEAKERS)

Steps necessary to register for the conference as an active participant (conference speaker):

1️⃣ Submit an abstract (200-300 words) and fill out the Speaker Application Form at: https://forms.gle/X5pFqCSasA9j9mRVA

2️⃣ Register via the Speaker Application Form by 23.59 on August 26, 2026 (we will not extend this deadline).

🔓 We reserve the right to select abstracts.

📣 The results of the abstract selection process will be announced by August 27, 2026.

3️⃣ Pay the conference fee to the bank account number that will be provided to the qualified speakers in an e-mail – the fee must be paid by August 29, 2026 at the latest.

➤ PASSIVE PARTICIPATION (CONFERENCE AUDIENCE)

Steps necessary to register for the conference by a passive participant (audience):

1️⃣ Fill out the Audience Registration Form at: https://forms.gle/svFLLd8EQWeyFTPo9

2️⃣ Register via the Audience Registration Form by 23.59 on August 29, 2026 (we will not extend this deadline). Failure to fill in the form will result in the inability to passively participate in the conference (and thus the inability to receive a passive conference participant certificate).

3️⃣ Pay the conference fee to the bank account number that will be provided to passive participants via e-mail. The fee must be paid by August 31, 2026, at the latest.

Registered audience will receive the conference schedule with a full list of speakers and titles of their presentations via e-mail before paying.

➤ SPEAKERS – 2 options:

• 269 PLN / 75 EUR – participation as a speaker + PDF electronic certificate sent via email (the electronic certificate bears the digital signatures of the members of the Conference Committee and the qualified Szafir electronic signature – the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature – of the President of the Board).

– OR –

• 299 PLN / 85 EUR – participation as a speaker + digital certificate + traditional certificate with a handwritten signature sent via post.

➤ AUDIENCE – 2 options:

• 149 PLN / 45 EUR – audience participation + PDF electronic certificate sent via email (the electronic certificate bears the digital signatures of the members of the Conference Committee and the qualified Szafir electronic signature – the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature – of the President of the Board).

– OR –

• 169 PLN / 55 EUR – audience participation + digital PDF certificate + traditional certificate with a handwritten signature sent via post.

Important! Please use the following pattern when filling in the transfer title field when making the payment of your conference fee*: " – fee for active / passive participation (select the appropriate one) – Human Rights Conference>

* Failure to do so may result in delays in posting the fee on the appropriate account and, consequently, even exclude your participation in the conference.

In the case of a co-authorship of a presentation by two or more speakers, please pay the fee for each of the co-speakers separately.

The organizers anticipate the possibility of publication in the form of a monograph. However, such possibility will depend on the number of authors willing to publish their text (chapter) in a monograph. The price for participation in the conference does not include the publication fee.

• It is possible to receive a VAT invoice (please make your request in the registration form – requests made later may not be satisfied).
• If your participation in the conference is to be financed by the university (or another institution/company), we suggest that you pay for your participation from your personal funds and then obtain reimbursement from the university (institution/company) on the basis of an invoice issued by the Center to your university (institution/company).
• The fee is non-refundable (since it grants you the right of entry to the conference).
• The link to the online conference room will be made available to registered participants within 24 hours before the start of the conference.
• It is possible to deliver a conference presentation by two or more speakers (the fee should be multiplied by the number of speakers).
• The presentation time is 15-25 minutes (depending on the fact of giving a solo or duet/trio presentation and the total number of presentations during the conference).
• Traditional paper certificates are usually sent via traditional post within 2 months after the conference – because of the approaching scholarship deadlines, we will do our best to deliver them faster.
• Digital certificates are sent to *all* participants within one week from the conference – because of the approaching scholarship deadlines, we will do our best to deliver them faster..
• All Participants will receive an affidavit confirming the composition of the Academic Conference Committee.
• All Participants will receive a certificate of the status of the Center for American Studies scientific society as an entity conducting primarily scientific activities in an independent and continuous manner, along with a full list of members of the Academic Council.
• The Center for American Studies arranges the order of presentations. The exact time of speaking at the conference is pre-determined by CfAS (it will be not possible to change the time of your conference presentation set in the conference schedule).
• Terms of Service (Conference Rules and Regulations): https://www.cfasofficial.com/en/terms-of-use