21 November 2025: Human Rights and the Body

The body plays a crucial but often understated and undertheorized role in human rights. Scholars from different disciplines have recently proposed different ways to address this, but have not always been heard across disciplinary divides. To remedy this, during this workshop, researchers and lecturers from different disciplines will briefly present the research and/or teaching they are doing that relates to human rights. We will have special attention for existing and potential interdisciplinary exchanges.

The aims of this meeting are:

• increasing the visibility of teaching and research on (the history of) human rights and the body carried out in different disciplines, specifically in the humanities, law and social sciences
• exploring possible interdisciplinary perspectives in teaching and research into human rights and the body
• fostering and sustaining collaborations in research or teaching
• getting inspired by colleagues working on the same themes in different disciplines

Attendees will give ‘lightning talks’ of no more than 5 minutes on teaching or research on (the history of) human rights in connection to the body.
We ask every participant to submit one author/title that has inspired them in advance; we will circulate list for everyone.

Provisional Programme

Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images.

14.00: Welcome and introduction

14.15-15.00: Lightning talks round 1

15.00-15.15: Break

15.15-16.00: Lightning talks round 2

16.00-16.15: Break

16.15-17.00: Academic speed date and closing

Interested?

Friday 21 November 2025 14.00-17.00, Kromme Nieuwegracht 80 Utrecht, room 1.06.

All are welcome, but please register via email to Elwin Hofman if you want to attend.

(Image:  Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images)