27 March 2026, New York | On April 3, 2026, the Human Rights Institute at Columbia Law School will host the Tenth Annual Human Rights Student Paper Symposium, marking a decade of advancing student scholarship, fostering critical dialogue, and strengthening faculty–student collaboration in the human rights field.

Founded in 2017 by Professor Sarah Knuckey, Faculty Director of the Human Rights Institute, the symposium has become a cornerstone of human rights engagement at Columbia Law School. Over the past ten years, it has created a uniquely collaborative space where students present original research and receive thoughtful, in-depth feedback from leading academics and practitioners. Over the past nine years alone, more than 140 student papers have been presented through the symposium, reflecting the depth and diversity of engagement across the field. For many participants, the experience has been both intellectually rigorous and personally formative.

Participants consistently describe the symposium as a rare space where student ideas are taken seriously and developed through sustained engagement. As Safia Southey ’26 reflected, “The symposium shaped my scholarship in ways that stayed with me across both years of participation; a piece I developed through the process was eventually published, which I trace directly back to the quality of the engagement I received there.” She noted that “there are very limited spaces in law school where student scholarship is taken that seriously,” making the experience “hugely appreciated.”

That emphasis on rigorous, constructive feedback is echoed across participants’ experiences. Michael Weaver ’25 described the feedback he received as “invaluable,” explaining that he was able to refine his arguments through the critical, supportive input of both professors and peers—an experience he believes was “the main reason why [his] article was accepted for publication by a prominent human rights law review.” More broadly, the symposium creates what Natalie Smith ’25 described as “an opportunity rarely available to law students who are developing original research: the chance to have their ideas thoughtfully and rigorously critiqued by experts while placing their work in dialogue with published scholarship.”

At the same time, the symposium is not only a site of academic rigor, but also one of community and inspiration. Skylar Gleason ’25, who participated in the symposium in multiple roles over three years, described consistently leaving the event “feeling so inspired,” noting that “in a law school environment where international law and human rights are often treated as more specialized areas, it feels especially meaningful to see students, faculty, and leading experts engage in such deep, constructive discussions about the world’s most pressing issues.” She also reflected on the symposium as “a wonderful space for building community and hope.”

This milestone year’s symposium will bring together students, faculty, practitioners, and scholars for a full day of thematic panel discussions, careful commentary, and community building. Selected presenters will engage with urgent and evolving human rights questions—ranging from migration and inequality to accountability, governance, and emerging technologies—while receiving feedback that strengthens both their scholarship and practice.

A defining feature of the symposium over the past decade has been its emphasis on close faculty–student engagement. Through detailed critique, open dialogue, and ongoing mentorship, the symposium creates a space where ideas are not only presented but refined in conversation with scholars and practitioners. As Tejal Jesrani, Acting Director of the Human Rights Institute, noted, “What makes the symposium distinctive is not only the quality of the scholarship, but the depth of engagement it fosters,” adding that it is a space where “students are taken seriously as emerging thinkers and advocates, and where feedback is grounded in a shared commitment to strengthening both ideas and impact.”

As the symposium marks its tenth year, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of human rights scholarship at Columbia Law School and the role of academic institutions in responding to an increasingly complex global landscape. The anniversary program highlights both the continuity of this collaborative model and the new directions emerging from student-led inquiry.

Ultimately, the symposium serves as a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where emerging voices can engage critically with urgent challenges, question existing frameworks, and contribute to the development of more just and accountable systems. By fostering dialogue across generations of scholars and practitioners, it continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of human rights work.

The Human Rights Institute looks forward to welcoming the Columbia Law School community and partners to this special anniversary gathering.

The event is co-organized by the Human Rights Institute, the Human Rights Clinic, the Columbia Law School Human Rights Association, the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, and the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law.

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The Human Rights Institute (HRI) advances international human rights through education, advocacy, fact-finding, research, scholarship, and critical reflection. HRI partners with advocates, communities, and organizations pushing for social change to strengthen human rights frameworks, promote accountability for rights violations, and build collective power