Call for Papers – Challenging Hate: A Human Rights Approach Conference
**Submission deadline Friday 5 December 2025**
Conference to be held 28-29 May 2026 in Limerick, Ireland.
The adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of its two sibling Recommendations on combating hate speech (CM/Rec(2022)16) and combating hate crime (CM/Rec(2024)4) created a comprehensive human rights framework for challenging hate across Europe.
The European Centre for the Study of Hate at the University of Limerick will host, in association with the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion, a two day conference on the Limerick campus for academics, policy-makers, practitioners, members of civil society organisations, and activists to discuss the scope and potential impact of the Recommendations, as well as means by which they can be operationalised locally, nationally and internationally.
As hate is mobilised and politicised within and outside our borders, this conference will challenge us to develop actionable proposals for change as we seek to promote the fundamental principles of equality and human dignity protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Distinguished speakers will include Professor Barbara Perry, UNESCO Chair of Hate Studies; Marion Adam, Avocate générale référendaire, Cour de cassation and former Vice-Chair of the Council of Europe committee on combating hate crime; and Klára Kalibová, Founder of In IUSTITIA. The conference will also feature of the launch of The De Gruyter Handbook on European Hate Crime.
Participating in the Conference
- We welcome proposals for in-person participation
- Unfortunately, pre-recorded or hybrid participation is not possible for the conference
- Proposals for participation should link to the broad agenda of combating hate, and/or the text of one or both recommendations on combating hate:
- The language of the conference will be English and there will be no translation services available. Abstracts in the French language will be accepted and included in a French language stream at the conference.
Submitting abstracts
Please use the form below to submit your proposal to participate at the conference. Details regarding the modes of participation are available here.
Conference stipends and scholarships are available, the details of which are set out below.
- Paper (a paper presented in 15-20 minutes that will be allocated to a Panel/Symposium dictated by the conference theme);
- Mini Symposium (a set of 3-4 papers presented in 15-20 minute slots followed by 30 minutes discussion);
- Discussion Panel (a set of 5 short (5 minute) papers, followed by an hour of discussion);
- Roundtable (a discussion session with no formal presentation of papers);
- Poster Presentation (posters are displayed throughout the conference and authors are available at a set time to discuss their work).
Key dates
- Abstract submissions open: 31 October 2025
- Call for abstracts closes: 05 December 2025
- Notification of acceptable of abstracts: 15 December 2025
- Conference registration opens: 29 November 2025
Find more information and submit your abstract here: https://www.ul.ie/ecsh/cdadi-conference-2026