A quarter-century removed from the September 11 attacks, a new generation knows only the dread and despair that dominate the narrative of now. Authoritarian governance, climate collapse, and techno-dystopia recalibrate a reality once set on the promise of tomorrow. Human rights and democracy face unprecedented existential threats. Legal foundations fray under bombardment while illiberal forces celebrate cruelty. Nation-states retreat from cooperation with others, looking inward and backward for scapegoats and excuses.
What’s worse, the mechanics we have to build new futures have themselves been endangered and hacked. Local law enforcement chills free expression and violates the rights of assembly with military-grade gear, immigration enforcement is weaponized to punish political opposition, and terrorism statutes outlaw protest across continents. From heightened digital authoritarianism in East Asia to the suppression of civil society in parts of Africa, the criminalization of social movements across the Americas, and the tightening grip on media in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, threats to the basic freedoms of democracy are everywhere. Documentation could be deep-faked while malignant algorithms surveil and shape online communities. Reliable philanthropic resources are evaporating at the very moment when investment in movement infrastructure is so essential.
These are difficult times, but a shift is underway.
Amidst this contracting civic space, a powerful counter-narrative is emerging. From mural movements and punk protests to indigenous artistic revivals, from digital memorials and silent theater to TikTok activism and algorithmic subversion, social movements are redefining the very act of resistance and actively defending fundamental human rights in powerfully creative ways. These movements are at the forefront of protecting the rights to assembly, association, belief, opinion, free expression, and dissent – all indispensable pillars of a healthy democracy. In this hostile environment, artistic expression and digital technologies have not merely become modes of activism and advocacy; they are now urgent tools for preserving democratic space, directly challenging structural violence, and amplifying marginalized voices. This convening of social movement scholars and practitioners of human rights links directly to the defense of democracy as a core objective.
In this spirit, the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton will convene the 2026 Social Practice of Human Rights (SPHR) conference to center this critical conjuncture. As the weight of disinformation, militarization, and belligerent politics bears down, communities are demonstrating remarkable adaptability. They are innovating, finding new ways to speak truth to power, to organize effective movements, and to reclaim public discourse. From the poignant street art that bears witness to state violence to the encrypted messaging apps that enable safe mobilization, the convergence of art and technology is fundamentally reshaping the architecture of protest and the defense of democratic ideals.
SPHR26 will take place on April 9-11 at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. #SPHR26 is planned as a hybrid event experience at this time. Virtual, as well as some in-person participation, is envisioned.
Submissions are welcome on topics that address themes and their intersections, including:
- Artivism as Resistance: The leveraging of visual, performative, and literary activism (murals, theater, spoken word, zines, music) for memory, imagination, and political intervention. How does this work drive change and foster dialogue in the face of repression?
- Upholding the Human Right to Protest and Dissent: Investigates the human right to protest and dissent, examining the legal frameworks, the strategic role of movement lawyering, and international mechanisms that safeguard collective action in an era of evolving social movements.
- Technological Transformation: The implications and promise of artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, technology-based innovation, and the role of digital freedom and the opportunity for engagement with stakeholders across public and private sectors.
- The Future of International Law: Creative resistance challenges, reinforces and redefines the impact of international legal mechanisms, and the viability of multilateralism and global governance is being challenged like never before. How can we reimagine human rights advocacy to create stronger institutions for peace and justice?
We especially encourage workshops, roundtables, and panels that bridge coalition thinking by placing scholars, policy designers, practitioners, artists, and activists in a space of engagement.
SPHR26 will feature a diverse program including keynote speeches, plenary sessions, roundtables, panel discussions, and cultural events. We particularly encourage proposals for creative works, performances, visual art, workshops, roundtables, and panels that foster meaningful dialogue between scholars and practitioners, as well as community collaborations, such as showcases for youth talent and initiatives.
HRE USA 