The Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights (MFHR) is organising a one-day international conference in a hybrid format on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, at the “Alkis Argyriades” Amphitheatre of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The conference aims to critically examine the current state of international human rights law in a period marked by increasing political contestation, backlash against human rights norms, and a growing retreat from multilateralism.
It will address recent instances of withdrawal and disengagement from human rights treaties as well as the mounting pressure that international bodies currently face. Building on these discussions, and drawing inspiration from recent developments that demonstrate renewed forms of inter-state cooperation and collective enforcement, the conference will explore pathways towards restoring confidence in the international human rights system and strengthening its capacity to respond to contemporary challenges.
You can find the conference program here.
Ημερομηνία/Ώρα:
26 Μάι 2026, 11:00
Που:
“Alkis Argyriades” Amphitheatre, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Ομιλητές:
Panel 1: Moderator- Dr. Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, Governing Board Member of the MFHR, Speakers: Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee in the Parliament of Latvia (Saeima), Vice Chair of the Latvian delegation to PACE, Council of Europe, Peggy Ducoulombier, Professor at the University of Strasbourg, Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Professor in Human Rights Law, Associate Dean for Global Engagement of the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, UK, Panos Merkouris, Professor of Public International Law, University of Groningen, Panel 2: Moderator- Photini Pazartzis, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, former Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee, Keynote speeker: Judge Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Section 1 President, Speakers: Maria – Daniella Marouda, Associate Professor at Panteion University, former Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Natasa Mavronicola, Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Birmingham, Dr. Aikaterini (Katerina) Tsampi, Assistant Professor of Public International Law, University of Groningen, Panel 3: Moderator -Linos-Alexander Sicilianos, President of the MFHR, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, f. President of the ECtHR, Speakers: Pierre d’Argent, Professor at the University of Louvain, Member of the Institut de droit international, Special Counsel Foley Hoag LLP, Makane Moïse Mbengue, Professor at the University of Geneva, member of the Curatorium of the Hague Academy of International Law, Member of the Institut de droit international, Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Professor at the University Paris Nanterre, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law, Member of the Institut de droit international, Hélène Tigroudja, Professor of International Law at Aix-Marseille University (France), Visting Professor of Public International Law at CIL (National University of Singapore, Vice-Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee