27-28-29 May 2024, Human Rights Beyond Territory and State (Final Conference)
An interdisciplinary event that will delve into pressing global issues, exploring themes such as climate change, migration, and natural resource extraction beyond traditional borders and governmental responsibilities. Bringing together a diverse group of participants encompassing academia, civil society, governmental organisations, advocacy groups, and affected communities. We propose a mixed conference, with an opening and closing session that targets a broad and non-specialist audience (also web-streamed), with a closed nuclear conference that targets experts (both academics and NGOs/ members of local communities). More information here.
26 and 27 June 2023, Distribution of Responsibility in Protecting Human Rights, Workshop in partnership with Asheville University
Workshop focused on answering the complex questions surrounding extraterritorial human rights obligations. While the notion of such obligations is widely accepted, the scope and legal consequences of these obligations remain unanswered. This workshop takes a practical approach by examining the extraterritorial responsibilities of states in two policy realms: business and human rights and climate change. More information here.
20 and 21 October 2022, Expert meeting on the justification of extraterritorial obligations, Brussels
An expert meeting on the justification of extraterritorial human rights obligations was held in Brussels. The expert meeting was hosted by Free University Brussels. An innovative format was followed, whereby international experts by and large external to ETO scholarship gave short introductions, after which extensive debate took place. All SRN members actively participated in these debates.
16- 19 June 2022, Conference on Synergies between Academia and Civil Society in Strategic Litigation at the Global Conference of the ETO Consortium, Erlangen
The SRN organized a session on ETOs in Practice: Synergies between Academia and Civil Society in Strategic Litigation at the Global Conference of the ETO Consortium (16-19 June 2022), held in Erlangen.The conference was hosted by the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. The session was organized by the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp. The SRN also contributed to the solidarity fund to allow participants from the Global South to contribute to the panel. The three supported experts from three regions (Prof. Neetu Sharma from India representing the Asian region, Mr. Julian Tole Martinez from Colombia representing the Latin American region and Prof. Cephas Lumina from S. Africa representing the African region) and one expert from the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp representing the European region discussed developments in state practice and strategic litigation with respect to extraterritorial obligations from a regional perspective.
11 February 2022, the Routledge Research Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations book launch
The Routledge Research Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations was launched at an event in collaboration with the ETO Consortium. During its two initial years, the SRN focused on the preparation of an authoritative publication on ETOs, the Routledge Research Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations. Members of the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp and the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg as well as the Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina Asheville were part of the editorial team, and members of all SRN partners have contributed one or more chapters to the handbook.
8 November 2021, Webinar on Extraterritoriality in Climate Change Litigation: Human Rights and Children’s Rights Perspectives
A webinar was held on Extraterritoriality in Climate Change Litigation: Human Rights and Children’s Rights Perspectives. The webinar was organized by the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp, with the latter’s contributions and the Ghent University Human Rights Centre ones. All SRN members participated in the open panel discussion.
28 September 2021, Webinar on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (happy 10th anniversary Maastricht Principles!)
The SRN co-organized with the ETO Consortium a webinar on the 10th Anniversary of the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The webinar was in English, Spanish and French. The webinar was hosted by the ETO Consortium, a global network of over 140 Civil Society Organisations and academics. Main contributions were made by the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp, Free University Brussels and Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina Asheville.
27 to 30 September 2020, closed expert workshop on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations.
A closed expert workshop on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations was held. This workshop was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The workshop featured seven thematic sessions on ETOs:
- Theoretical Foundations of ETOs,
- Environment,
- Development Cooperation/Aid,
- Finance/Investment/Trade,
- Migration and Refugee Protection,
- Security and Peace
- Enforcement of ETOs within human rights enforcement mechanisms.
More than 35 experts working on ETOs in these thematic areas participated in the expert workshop. They presented and discussed work that has meanwhile been published in the Routledge Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations. The expert workshop also featured plenary sessions dedicated to ETOs in a broader perspective. The symposium was hosted by the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, and substantive contributions were made by all other SRN partners.
3 March 2020, Book Launch on Children’s Rights and Business
An expert seminar and book launch was organized at the Universitaire Stichting in Brussel, on the topic of Children’s Rights and Business: Governing Obligations and Responsibility. The expert seminar was organized by the members of the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp, with presentations from the latter and the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg as well as the Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina Asheville in particular. Members of the other Flemish research groups attended the meeting and participated in the debates.