[Conference] Advancing Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights

“Advancing Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights in a Polarised, Digitalised, and Unequal World” is the launching Conference of the NNHRR Working Group on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and of the project “Evolving Rights: Social Rights in the Era of Climate Change and Digital Revolution” at Leiden University.

Details

• Dates: 4-5 September 2025
• Location: Leiden University
• Open to: Members of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Renewed momentum for social rights

In the Netherlands and around the world, economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) — including the rights to housing, health, food, education, and social security — have long been viewed as “second-rank” rights. They face persistent barriers to codification, enforcement, and realization. As we confront escalating global crises — ranging from pandemics, wars, and climate change to digital disruption and deepening inequalities — ESCR are increasingly recognized as foundational to human dignity, democratic participation, and social cohesion. However, in practice, they are often still marginalised.

A key dimension of this debate concerns the role of the judiciary. The continued dichotomy between liberty rights and social rights — paired with limited mechanisms for judicial review — poses a significant obstacle. Yet our focus must go beyond courts to include administrative, political, and societal mechanisms for the realization of rights. New challenges are emerging in the digital era: from the increasing use of automated decision-making to barriers in accessing public services and legal remedies, the digitalisation of governance raises pressing questions about fairness, transparency, and inclusion in the protection of social rights.

While growing threats to civil liberties have rightly drawn public concern, social rights are more vital than ever — not only to protect the most vulnerable, but also to ensure meaningful democratic participation and resilient institutions. This conference takes place at a time of renewed momentum for social rights. It aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, and advocates to collectively map the most pressing issues, identify existing research, and deepen understanding through critical exchange. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and jurisdictions, the conference seeks to generate both scholarly and societally relevant contributions to the advancement of ESCR.

A Double Launch Conference

This conference marks the official launch of the Working Group on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights within the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research, coordinated by Lucas Dikkers, Luísa Pinto e Netto, and Nathalie Schnabl. The Working Group aims to establish a platform for collaborative, critical, and interdisciplinary scholarship on ESCR in both domestic and global contexts.

The event also marks the launch of the multi-year research project "Evolving Rights: Social Rights in the Era of Climate Change and Digital Revolution", led by Luísa Pinto e Netto at Leiden University and supported by a Dutch government starting grant.

The conference will explore legal, theoretical, and practical dimensions of ESCR, including enforcement mechanisms, constitutional debates, and the intersection of ESCR with urgent global challenges such as climate change, inequalities and discrimination, technological disruption, and rising authoritarianism and political polarisation.

The conference aims to provide a forum to bring together early career and established academics and practitioners to examine key original aspects within the broader umbrella mentioned above. The goal is also to foster the discussions among different jurisdictions, legal traditions, and practices.

We are honoured to announce that Aoife Nolan, Professor of International Human Rights Law, Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at Nottingham University, and President of the Council of Europe's European Committee of Social Rights, will deliver the keynote address.

Programme

You can find the programme overview here.

Registration

Attendance is limited to Members of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Those interested in attending should contact Luísa Pinto e Netto at l.c.pinto.e.netto@law.leidenuniv.nl.