[Programme Announcement] Toogdag 2025

This year's Toogdag, organised by Radboud University and its Research Centre for State and Law (SteR), will centre around the theme of Access to Justice (A2J). 

A2J is vital for protecting human rights, enabling individuals to seek redress and hold power accountable. However, A2J faces growing threats—from rising legal costs and procedural barriers to shrinking civic space and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Systemic inequalities further marginalize vulnerable groups, while digital innovations risk deepening divides. Populist movements and anti-establishment sentiment also erode trust in legal institutions. These issues are increasingly relevant in the Netherlands, with proposed government measures—tightening standing requirements, curbing legal aid, and limiting appeals—raising serious questions about compliance with Article 6 ECHR, Article 47 of the EU Charter, and UN human rights norms.

The plenary sessions will reflect on the theme of A2J more broadly, while the parallel sessions will focus on specific topics related to the five working groups (digital age; business; migration; climate; economic, social and cultural rights) and/or specific areas of (Dutch) law (administrative; criminal and/ or private).

Details

• Wednesday 11 June 15.30 – Thursday 12 June 17.15
• Radboud University, Grotius building (Montessorilaan 10, 6525HR Nijmegen)

Programme

Wednesday 11 June 2025: PhD Workshop

15.30 – 17.00 | Networking for PhDs

17.00 – 18.30 | Meeting of the Steering Committee and Advisory Board

17.30 – 19.00 | PhD Drinks @ The Boules Club

19.00 | Dinner @ Restaurant Mira

Thursday 12 June 2025: Annual Conference

09:00 – 10.00 | Registration & Coffee

10.00 – 10.15 | Welcome and opening

10.15 – 11.15 | Keynote by prof. dr. Helen Duffy

11.20 – 12.45 | Parallel Sessions I

• Business & Human Rights Working Group: "Justice and Global Business: Sustainability, Due Diligence, and Dispute Resolution"
• Migration and Borders Working Group
• Human Rights in the Digital Age Working Group: "Access to Justice in the Digital Society"
• "Access to Justice – Mobilisation and Litigation"

12.45 – 14.00 | Lunch break

14.00 – 15.30 | Parallel Sessions II

• Human Rights & the Climate Crisis Working Group: "Access to Justice for the Climate Crisis"
• Economic, Social & Cultural Rights Working Group: "Social Rights and Access to Justice in the Netherlands"
• "Access to justice – Challenges and Innovations"
• "Access to justice – Integration and Discrimination"

15.30 – 16.00 | Coffee & Tea break

16.00 – 16.05 | Shelter City

16.05 – 17.15 | Plenary Panel

17.15 | Closing and drinks

A full programme overview is available here.

Registration

Please register here.