On May 15-16th, the 12th annual conference of the International Network of Studies in Law “Fight for Your Rights Club: Human Rights in a Democracy of the Digital Age” will be held in Vilnius. The topic of this year’s conference reflects the relevance of global legal challenges and emphasizes the importance of the interaction between human rights and technology in legal discourse.
As observed in the practices of national jurisdictions, in legal disputes, a significant argument often stems not only from legal rules but also from human rights. Judicial decisions reveal that rights are protected not necessarily by identifying a breach of formal rules, but also by addressing the violation of an individual’s rights, says one of the organizer of the conference Assoc. Prof. Dr Johanas Baltrimas. “Therefore, contemporary trends indicate that the concepts of law and justice are evolving, and the legal system must adapt to meet the new needs of society. This year’s conference reflects the growing need to discuss the significance of human rights in the functioning of law within a democratic society,” adds J. Baltrimas.
Conference discussions will delve into how human rights align with democratic principles in a rapidly changing technological world. Recent events, such as the European Parliament and U.S. presidential elections, reveal that the digital environment increasingly influences democratic processes. For instance, the Romanian Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding the use of the TikTok application in electoral campaigns demonstrated how social media platforms can become tools or even obstacles in democratic processes. This trend is also evident in the growing role of technology giants in the digital era when making political decisions in democratic states, as highlighted by the unusually active involvement of Elon Musk in political campaigns through his controlled social network. These challenges pave the way for discussions on the potential responsibility and regulation of technology and corporations by state instruments.
The conference offers a unique opportunity to share insights and ideas with the international academic community, to discuss contemporary challenges in law and human rights, and to expand professional networks and opportunities for collaboration. Law Faculty of the Vilnius University kindly invites PhD students and young researchers, who have recently obtained their doctoral degrees to take a part in this event. Submission of abstracts is until February 10th.
More information here.