The Call for Submissions for the 2027 Human Rights Essay Award Is Now Open!
The Human Rights Essay Award is an annual award sponsored by the Academy aimed at encouraging the production of academic articles in the field of international human rights law. The topic for 2027 will be: Democracy, Human Rights and Participation.
Participants have the flexibility to choose any subject related to this topic. However, the scope of the essay must directly correspond to the 2027 theme, or it will be disqualified. Additionally, we would like to note that, for purposes of the Award, we consider international human rights law to include international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
Why Address the Relationship Between Democracy and Human Rights?
The topic of democracy has increasingly occupied a central role in academic and professional legal discussions concerning the effective protection and guarantee of human rights. As political dynamics evolve across countries and regions, and as the structure and functioning of institutions change, important questions arise regarding how new political proposals, forms of governance, and transformations in the exercise of public authority affect the ways in which States, their institutions, and even non-State actors ensure the protection of fundamental rights.
During the 1990s, there appeared to be a broad consensus within much of the international community not only that democracy was the most suitable system for protecting individuals and promoting stable and prosperous societies, but also regarding many of its fundamental components. Today, however, democracy itself and the institutions traditionally associated with democratic governance are once again the subject of significant legal and political debate. Several well-recognized organizations have raised concerns about changes in democratic institutions and political rights around the world. Human Rights Watch, for example, noted in its World Report 2026 that, according to some metrics, democracy has returned to levels last seen in 1985 and that approximately 72 percent of the world’s population currently lives under autocratic rule.
These developments are also occurring at a time when the international institutions and human rights mechanisms established and progressively strengthened in the decades following the Second World War face important questions regarding their effectiveness, resources, mandates, and capacity to respond to contemporary challenges. At the same time, scholars and practitioners continue to debate broader transformations in globalization and multilateralism, including the emergence of approaches to international relations that are increasingly described as transactional. These transformations in political and international systems inevitably have implications for democracy, including how democratic institutions are built, structured, understood, and preserved.
The relationship between democracy, human rights, and participation therefore opens the door to a wide range of contemporary legal questions. Among many possible areas of discussion are the separation and independence of branches of government; judicial independence and impartiality; the protection and political participation of minorities and historically marginalized groups; political pluralism and the role of political parties; equality and nondiscrimination; transparency and public participation in the adoption of legislation and policies affecting communities; labor rights and democratic participation; freedom of expression and freedom of the press; the role of civil society; and the protection of civic space.
Other questions concern the profound impact of technology on democratic societies, including the role of social media in political participation and public discourse, the challenges created by misinformation and disinformation, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its impact on individuals, institutions, elections, employment, and the exercise of fundamental rights. Candidates may also consider questions related to election integrity and political participation; public security and crime-prevention policies and their compatibility with human rights; accountability for gross human rights violations; the weakening or capture of democratic institutions; and the legal and institutional challenges involved in restoring democracy and the rule of law following periods of authoritarianism.
These questions are neither entirely new nor limited to any particular region. Democracy has faced profound challenges at different moments in history and across virtually every region of the world. Contemporary developments, however, provide an opportunity to reconsider these questions through the evolving framework of international human rights law and to examine how established principles should respond to new political, institutional, social, and technological realities.
Recognizing the breadth of this topic, the Academy encourages candidates to think creatively and critically about the many legal questions it raises. Essays may approach the subject from different regional, international, comparative, institutional, or thematic perspectives. Candidates should nevertheless ensure that their analysis maintains a clear connection among the three central components of the 2027 topic: democracy, human rights, and participation.
The Essay Award and the 32nd Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition
It is noteworthy that this same topic will be addressed during our 32nd Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition, which will take place from May 16 to May 21, 2027.
This year, we have partnered with the GQUAL Campaign and the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) in the development of the hypothetical case to create a complex and cutting-edge scenario addressing contemporary challenges related to democracy, human rights, and participation. Participants in the Human Rights Essay Award are also eligible to serve as judges in the Moot Court Competition.
Learn more about the work of the GQUAL Campaign here: https://gqualcampaign.org/
Learn more about the work of CEJIL here: https://cejil.org/
Our commitment to fostering human rights education and encouraging the production of academic articles aims to enhance the analysis of this pressing topic and contribute to the development of more effective legal frameworks and stronger protections for human rights within democratic societies.
About the Prizes for the Winners
The Academy will grant two Awards: one for the best article in English and one for the best article in Spanish. Each Award will consist of a full-tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law for either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance option (travel, housing, and per diem living expenses are not included).
Additionally, the two best articles and the four honorable mentions may also be published in the American University International Law Review, which contains relevant and diverse academic material. This prestigious journal receives approximately 1,500 submissions each year and publishes legal research from professors, judges, lawyers, and renowned scholars.
Important Dates and General Requirements to Confirm Your Eligibility
Please keep in mind that the deadline to submit an essay is February 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM (Washington, D.C. time). Winners will be announced by April 1, 2027. These deadlines are fixed and cannot be changed, so please plan your writing accordingly. The best advice we can give you is simple: the sooner you start, the better!
Moreover, the Award rules are clear regarding eligibility. Only licensed attorneys in their respective jurisdictions are eligible to submit an essay. This requirement applies to candidates from any country in the world. Accordingly, students who have not yet graduated from law school are not eligible to submit an essay.
Qualifying law degrees include J.D., LL.M., LL.B., or S.J.D. degrees. We understand that some countries use different titles for professional, academic, and legal degrees. If your country uses a different name for a legal degree that is not among those expressly listed in our rules, you are welcome to submit evidence confirming that, regardless of its title, the degree constitutes an accredited and appropriate legal degree in accordance with the laws and regulations of the respective country.
Candidates who have completed all academic requirements for their degree and are awaiting the formal issuance of their diploma may be eligible, subject to prior consultation with the Academy. You can contact us at: [email protected]
Other requirements that must be observed include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The candidate must have demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law.
- Candidates have the flexibility to choose any subject related to the 2027 topic: Democracy, Human Rights and Participation.
- The essay must directly address the 2027 topic.
- The submitted essay must be an academic legal article containing appropriate citations and references to relevant sources.
If you would like to learn more about the rules for submitting your essay, please check here: https://www.american.edu/wcl/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/award/rules.cfm
If you would like to learn more about the Human Rights Essay Award, including previous winners and members of the Honor Jury, please check here: https://www.american.edu/wcl/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/award/
Start Writing!
The Academy is excited to receive submissions for this year’s Award. As we continue to learn from our diverse and engaging community of academics, attorneys, and human rights advocates, we are confident that new ideas and fresh, cutting-edge proposals will emerge from this year’s submissions.
Democracy and human rights require, perhaps now more than ever, new approaches and ideas, and there is no better way to encourage them than by providing meaningful spaces for academics, legal professionals, and human rights advocates to contribute to these discussions.
We look forward to reading your analysis, so start writing!
