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Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ will host an online conference focussing on to the role of individuals and civil society in responding to threats to the rule of law in troubled times.

On 29 en 30 October 2020, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ’s Montaigne Centre for the Rule of Law and Administration of Justice, together with the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), will host the conference The Rule of Law from Below. A conference on the role of individuals and civil society as protectors of the rule of law in troubled times. The purpose of the conference is to investigate the different ways in which individuals can be protectors and defenders of the rule of law, and also explore whether attention to this perspective may influence how the rule of law is defined and understood by States and other international actors. A follow up session will be held in the morning of 30 October to brainstorm potential new publications or research projects.

Time zone

All sessions of this conference will be held online. A small number of participants is gathering in person in Utrecht, the Netherlands (UTC+1). This program is therefore based on this time zone, the Central European Time.

Attendance and Registration

It is possible for a limited number of persons to attend one or more sessions. If you are interested in joining, you can send an email to montaignecentrum@uu.nl by 12 October 2020 at the latest. Please inform us about your affiliation, whether you are an NNHRR member, and which sessions you would like to attend. Once your registration has been confirmed, you will receive an email with a link to the specific session(s) and further instructions by email.

Programme 

Individuals and Civil Society as Protectors of the Rule of Law 

Across the world, global challenges such as armed conflict, climate change, and the rise of illiberal practices are putting the rule of law under pressure in different and sometimes contradictory ways. On the one hand, States today seem more dominant than ever before with a rise in nationalism, authoritarian leaders, and a shrinking civic space all over the globe. On the other hand, a multitude of forces are causing private actors, ranging from businesses to armed groups, to fill spaces and carry out roles where the State used to dominate. Both circumstances often result in the erosion of rule of law principles. Rule of law principles provide, amongst other things, that laws are clear and applied fairly; that everyone is accountable under the law; and that fundamental rights will be protected. From a multitude of directions, it seems as if the rule of law is being put at risk, causing a threat to its underlying values and a decline of democratic systems.  
 
Out of this complexity, people acting individually or in groups as civil society are increasingly finding innovative ways to support the rule of law. For example, they are standing up to authoritarian regimes, using technology to document violations of the fundamental legal norms and holding individuals in positions of power to account, taking on leadership roles within their communities in armed conflict, and asserting their power to enforce international obligations or the values underlying the rule of law, by means of collective action, litigation, or advocacy. The relationship between individuals and groups of people vis-à-vis the system of the rule of law, as it exists at the local, national, and international level, has been under-explored in international law. Traditionally, attention has tended to centre on States and international organisations as the primary entities responsible for its protection.

Organising team

The conveners of the conference are SIM researchers and Montaigne Centre members:

• Antoine Buyse
• Julie Fraser
• Katharine Fortin
• Brianne McGonigle Leyh
• Nelleke Koffeman.