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)
Description
Children are among the most vulnerable victims of conflict, displacement, poverty, exploitation and violence. Across the world, children face grave violations of their rights, including sexual violence, trafficking, forced recruitment, abduction, child marriage, slavery, and the denial of access to education and healthcare. This showcase forum will examine whether the international legal framework is adequately protecting children and explore how governments, international institutions and the legal community can strengthen accountability and protection mechanisms.
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 |
| Professor Theodor Meron | UN War Crimes Tribunals Advisor, 's-Gravenhage, Netherlands |
| Macarena Rivera Lam | UNESCO, Paris, France |
| Shahd Sabir | Save the Children Sudan, Al Aḩmar, Sudan |