The 2026 Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights, organized by the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown Law, is scheduled for March 31, 2026, at 500 First St NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C. This annual event honors the legacy of Professor Sam Dash by convening leading figures in the human rights field to discuss pressing issues.
This year's conference, titled "Futures at Stake: Climate Change, Human Rights, and Youth Advocacy," will focus on the intersection of environmental protection and human rights. Building on the 2025 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice affirming that environmental protection is a precondition to human rights, the event will feature Indigenous and youth activists sharing how climate change is reshaping their communities and fueling action. Legal experts will explore how recent landmark decisions can drive impact in courts and legislatures worldwide, and how to confront barriers like corporate capture and climate disinformation in the United States.
Attendees can expect a full day of discussions, beginning with coffee and breakfast at 9:00 a.m., followed by opening remarks at 9:25 a.m. The conference will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, and opportunities for networking with human rights advocates, legal professionals, and scholars.
This conference is ideal for legal practitioners, human rights advocates, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in the nexus of climate change and human rights. It offers a platform to engage with experts, gain insights into current challenges, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on climate justice and youth advocacy.
Speakers(8)
Alfred Brownell
Founder and Lead Campaigner at Green Advocates International
Alfred Brownell is the founder and lead campaigner of Green Advocates International, known for his environmental activism and as a 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize winner.
Charlot Lucien
History Instructor at OLLI Institute, University of Massachusetts
Charlot Lucien is a History Instructor at the OLLI Institute, University of Massachusetts.
Elisa Massimino
Visiting Professor and Executive Director at Human Rights Institute, Georgetown Law
Elisa Massimino is a Visiting Professor and Executive Director of the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown Law.
Jake Johnston
Director of International Research at Center for Economic and Policy Research
Jake Johnston is the Director of International Research at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of 'Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti'.
Jemima Pierre
Professor of Global Race at University of British Columbia
Dr. Jemima Pierre is a Professor of Global Race in the Institute of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia, and a member of the Black Alliance for Peace.
Leslie Alexander
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of History at Rutgers University
Dr. Leslie Alexander is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of History at Rutgers University and author of 'Fear of a Black Republic: Haiti and the Birth of Black Internationalism in the United States'.
Mildred Trouillot-Aristide
Former First Lady of Haiti and American Lawyer
Mildred Trouillot-Aristide is the former First Lady of Haiti and an American lawyer.
Peter James Hudson
Associate Professor, Department of Geography at University of British Columbia
Dr. Peter James Hudson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia.
Event Details
- Date
- March 31, 2026
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Washington, D.C., United States
- 500 First St NW, 9th Floor
- Audience
- Legal practitioners, human rights advocates, policymakers, students, and individuals interested in climate change and human rights.