The Irish Centre for European Law (“ICEL”) is pleased to announce that it will host its Annual Human Rights Conference in partnership with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland, Galway (“NUIG”) on Thursday 15 October 2026 from 10am-5pm at NUIG. Tickets can be purchased here.

This conference will be themed “Ireland’s role in protecting EU values to strengthen the international legal order” and provide a forum for discussion of EU Values, with a particular focus on human rights as enshrined under Article 2 TEU and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The conference will explore and respond to the work undertaken by Ireland for the protection and promotion of EU values during its Presidency, in the face of the current global uncertainty and weakening of the international rules based order.

Key themes will include:

(i) Specific areas of focus for Ireland (e.g. protecting multilateral institutions; promoting women’s rights, opposing efforts to diminish international standards including in the context of planned EU accession to the ECHR and supporting Ukraine’s pathway to EU membership).

(ii) The intersections between Ireland’s three themes for its EU Presidency.

(iii) The ‘toolbox’ of instruments available to uphold the rule of law in EU Member States, including Article 7 of TEU and the importance of accountability.

(iv) Reflections on Ireland’s EU Presidency as it campaigns for UN Human Rights Council membership.

Speakers will be confirmed shortly.

This conference is being part funded by the Communicating for Europe Initiative.