Leading Cases in UN Human Rights Law: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation

The Maastricht Centre for Human Rights is delighted to collaborate in the Fundamental Rights Research Colloquium, an online series organised under the cluster “Leading Cases in UN Human Rights Law: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation.”

The series is hosted by the Centre for Fundamental Rights at the Hertie School, in collaboration with the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford, the Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN), and the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights at Maastricht University.

Across four colloquia, scholars and experts will examine leading cases from the UN human rights treaty bodies and explore questions of doctrinal novelty, harmonisation across bodies and legal regimes, and areas of contestation.

Freedom of Religion and Belief in the Case Law of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation
Wednesday, 23 September 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CEST
With Yordan Nugraha, Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, and Nazila Ghanea, University of Oxford and UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Register here

Enforced Disappearances in the Case Law of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CEST
With Alexandre Skander Galand, Maastricht Centre for Human Rights, and Grażyna Baranowska, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
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Racial Discrimination in the Case Law of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation
Wednesday, 18 November 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CET
With Betül Durmuş, Bilkent University, and Mehrdad Payandeh, Bucerius Law School and former member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
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Gender-Based Discrimination in the Case Law of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies: Novelty, Harmonisation and Contestation
Wednesday, 2 December 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CET
With Başak Çalı, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, and Fleur van Leeuwen, Utrecht University.
Register here

All four colloquia take place online. We warmly invite colleagues and students interested in international human rights law, the work of the UN treaty bodies, and the interaction between international human rights institutions to join the discussions.