[Invitation] Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2025 Ceremony

The 10th December is International Human Rights Day. On this occasion the Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2025, organized by the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research (NNHRR), Tilburg Law School and Studium Generale, will be presented to honor exemplary contributions to human rights research.

We would like to invite you to join the award-ceremony on Thursday, 10 December 2025 from 15:00 to 17:00 CET at Tilburg University (Room MKZ 111, Marga Klompé building). To register please fill out the following form before Monday 1 December 2025.

Since 1995, this prize is awarded to the best PhD and the best master-thesis in the field of human rights. The award, which serves as an incentive for human rights scholarship, is named after Max van der Stoel, former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorites and professor of International and European Law at Tilburg University.

Keynote by Prof. Conny Rijken

Prof. Conny Rijken will deliver the keynote entitled "Victimmigration: human trafficking in the context of migration". Prof .Conny Rijken is the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children. Since 2022, she has led national efforts to uncover the realities of trafficking and child sexual violence in the Netherlands. Conny Rijken is also Professor of Human Trafficking and Globalisation at Tilburg University and President of GRETA, the Council of Europe’s group monitoring anti- trafficking efforts across Europe. With over 20 years of research, she is one of Europe’s foremost experts in the field. Her work spans labour exploitation, corporate accountability, and the psychological toll of trafficking. She also investigates abuses along migration routes, shedding light on the links between migration, trafficking, and smuggling.

Winner Announcement

After the keynote by Prof. Rijken, the 2025 Max van der Stoel award winners, which have been selected by the members of the jury, will be announced.

This year’s members of the jury are:

• Dr Koen Lemmers, Professor of Human Rights Law at KU Leuven (presiding)
• Dr Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, Associate Professor of Sustainability Law at the University of Amsterdam
• Dr Carl Emilio Lewis, Researcher in International Law at the T.M.C. Asser Institute
• Dr Gerhard van der Schyff, Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at Tilburg University
• Dr. Antenor Hallo de Wolf, Assistant Professor of International Law and Human Rights at Groningen University

We look forward to welcoming you to the Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2025 ceremony!

Should there be any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at NNHRR@asser.nl.

Programme

• Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025 15:00-17:00
• Venue: Room MKZ 111, Marga Klompé building, Tilburg University

15.00 | Welcome with coffee & tea

15.30 | Introduction Prof. Nicola Jägers, Chair Human Rights Law & Head of the department Public Law & Governance, Tilburg University

15.45 | Keynote Victimmigration: human trafficking in the context of migration by Prof. Conny Rijken, Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children and Professor of Human Trafficking and Globalisation at Tilburg University.

16.30 | Awarding of the Max van der Stoel Human Rights 2025 Award. Prof. Koen Lemmens. Chair of the jury.

17.00 | Drinks