2026

Ninth Annual NNHRR Conference
Toogdag 2026
Safeguarding Human Rights in the Technological Age

Thursday 11 June 2026
Venue: Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus School of Law) 

The impact of technology and digitalisation on human rights is an increasingly urgent area of concern. Technological innovation can strengthen rights protection through tools such as biometric identification systems, remote sensing and IoT environmental monitoring, and data analytics to detect patterns of discrimination. However, it can also pose serious risks. For instance, surveillance technologies may enable invasive monitoring and suppress dissent; social media can amplify hate speech and misinformation; and automation and AI can contribute to job displacement, affecting the right to work. Likewise, the resource-intensive infrastructure underpinning many technologies can also impact the right to a healthy environment.

At the same time, the digital divide remains a pressing challenge. Unequal access to technology and digital literacy can deepen existing inequalities and limit access to justice. Moreover, the growing influence of private actors and large platforms can shape who is included or excluded from technological benefits, with significant implications for human rights protection. In the Netherlands, these issues are increasingly visible as digitalisation reshapes relationships between governments and citizens.

The 2026 Toogdag, hosted by Erasmus School of Law and its Erasmus Center of Law and Digitalisation, will explore these developments through plenary and parallel sessions on topics including the digital age, business and human rights, migration, climate, economic, social and cultural rights, and key areas of Dutch law (including administrative and criminal law). 

We are looking forward to seeing you at the conference!