IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
4 Oct - 9 Oct 2026
B2 1+3, Level 0
Session information
IBAHRI Showcase: The world and its children: the grave legal challenges to protecting the wellbeing and rights of the child
Monday 5 October (1430 - 1730)
B2 1+3, Level 0
Committee(s)
IBA's Human Rights Institute
(Lead)
Arab Regional Forum
European Regional Forum
Family Law Committee
Human Rights Law Committee
Latin American Regional Forum
North American Regional Forum
Rule of Law Forum
Women Lawyers' Committee
Description
This showcase will bring together leading voices from across the legal, human rights and child protection communities to examine the grave challenges facing children around the world. Against a backdrop of conflict, fragility, poverty and inequality, the session will explore violations including attacks on children, displacement, trafficking, child marriage, sexual violence and other forms of exploitation, while considering the legal frameworks and mechanisms intended to protect children and hold perpetrators to account.
Importantly, the showcase will also hear directly from young people. Ukrainian Youth Representatives Denys (16) and Hanna (18) will share their perspectives and experiences of growing up during conflict, highlighting the importance of children’s voices, participation and rights in shaping responses to the challenges they face.
The session will consider why, despite strong international protections for children, serious violations continue to occur, and what more can be done to strengthen accountability, implementation and meaningful protection for every child.
Session / Workshop Chair(s)
| Farmida Bi | Norton Rose Fulbright, London, England |
| Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC | International Bar Association, London, England |
Speakers
| Dr Mary Grace Castillejos Agcaoili | UNICEF, New York, New York, USA |
| Hamza Al-Kateab | Action For Sama, London, England |
| Almudena Arpon de Mendivil | Gomez-Acebo & Pombo, Madrid, Spain; Immediate Past President, IBA |
| Richard Bennett | UN, New York, New York, USA |
| Steve Crawshaw | Author, London, England |
| Professor Rangita DE SILVA DE ALWIS | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Mariya Gabriel | UNESCO, Paris, France |
| Professor Theodor Meron | UN War Crimes Tribunals Advisor, 's-Gravenhage, Netherlands |
| Flavia Piovesan | Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, '18-'21, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Shahd Sabir | Save the Children Sudan, Al Aḩmar, Sudan |