RightsCon

But RightsCon is more than the big moments. It’s the new perspective that challenges you. It’s where we share, listen, strategize, and act together.

Ready to join us? Get your early bird ticket today for up to 50% off regular pricing.

A graphic collage of triangular shapes and gradients with the RightsCon 2026 branding colors. A text reads: Registration for RightsCon 2026 is now open! The world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age

It's official: registration is now open for RightsCon 2026 (Zambia and online, May 5-8)!
rightscon.org/registration

RightsCon is home to many movements: from defending equality, privacy, and freedom, to shaping digital rights frameworks, to fighting internet shutdowns, and more 👇

Centrally located, the MICC is surrounded by major international hotels and a 30-minute drive from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

Stay tuned for next week as we’ll launch our Plan Your Travel page with more info and tips for joining us in Zambia, including visas, flights, and hotels.

A cutout shows one of the entrances of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre. Below, a text reads: “Meet the RightsCon 2026 venue in Lusaka!” with the RightsCon 2026 logo

We’re excited to announce our home in Lusaka! RightsCon 2026 will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC), the largest conference center in Zambia!

With its modern infrastructure and flexible layout, the MICC is the perfect fit for RightsCon’s dynamic program. 👇

Privacy & Human Rights Award – Global Privacy Assembly

Nominate an organization for the Privacy and Human Rights Award: globalprivacyassembly.com/privacy-huma...

Add your name to the Speaker and Facilitator List (open late October)

Apply for a booth in the Community Village

Partner with us through RightsCon side events and our Expanded Programming

Your proposal will go through a 3-step review process with the Program Committee, and results are expected in late December!

In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to engage with the RightsCon program. In the coming months, you’ll be able to:
👇

The picture shows a collage of shapes. Inside of one of the shapes it shows two participants taking a photo together. In the gradient background, it shows a roundtable session at RightsCon. Above it a text reads: What’s next for the RightsCon program?

We received over 1,600 submissions for RightsCon 2026!

This impressive number shows the urgency of today’s digital rights challenges and the community’s commitment to ensuring that RightsCon remains the space for the crucial conversations shaping our lives.

What’s next? 👇

A collage of two speakers at a RightsCon session and a branded gradient background. A text above it reads: “Call for Proposals: closes tomorrow! September 19”

Have you submitted your RightsCon 2026 proposal yet?

There’s still time to help shape the agenda on digital rights of our next summit, in Zambia and online (May 5-8).

Submit through the Proposal Portal:
rightscon.secure-platform.com/a/solicitati...

Remember to submit before September 19!

If you need extra guidance, visit our Guide to a Successful Proposal page for instructions, resources, and examples.

To submit your RightsCon 2026 proposal go to rightscon.secure-platform.com/a/solicitati...

A photo of a speaker during a dialogue session at RightsCon. A text above it reads: “Call for Proposals new deadline: September 19”

Good news! You have one more week to submit your proposal for RightsCon 2026 (May 5-8, Zambia and online). The deadline has been extended to Sept 19.

To support you in this final stretch, we’re adding an extra office hour on September 16. Sign up: rightscon.org/program/#tra... 👇

RightsCon Program This page gives an overview of the program for RightsCon, including our formats and highlights of previous editions

If you still need support with your proposal, join our social hour on September 10 and chat with the program team directly! Sign up here: www.rightscon.org/program/#tra...

The top three categories leading the way:
• Online Hate and Violence
• AI & Emerging Technologies
• Digital Security for Communities

Civil society continues to lead, but Academia is making waves in second place with 19% of proposals, showing the diversity of voices shaping digital rights today. 👇

A purple and red gradient with two yellow shapes at the bottom. A text reads: "A snapshot of Call for Proposals so far: 44% proposers from Africa; 16% from Europe. 49% Proposers from Civil Society; 19% Academia". At the bottom it shows the RightsCon 26 Zambia logo

Just one week left to submit your RightsCon 2026 proposal! Send your idea before Friday, September 12.

Here’s a snapshot of how things are shaping up so far:

44% of proposals are coming from Africa, a clear sign that local communities are ready to bring digital rights conversations to Zambia. 👇

Need some support with your RightsCon 2026 proposal? Join our training session this Tuesday, Sep. 2!

Our team will:

✅ Share best practices for a strong proposal
✅ Offer insights to sharpen your session idea
✅ Answer your questions before you submit

Sign up here: www.rightscon.org/program/#tra...

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

2. Digital rights from an Indigenous and “glocal” perspective

Centering Indigenous voices in digital rights, from data colonialism and spectrum sovereignty to bridging the digital divide.
👉 Vote: participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

Help us bring digital rights to the SXSW stage by voting for our two proposals!

1. Tackling the “snakes” undermining digital rights

Examining the existential threats civil society is facing and how we can strengthen the sector together.
👉 Vote: participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

‎Today, I spoke at the closing ceremony of the @rightscon.org
‬⁩ #2025 to talk about Laila Soueif and Free Alaa.
‎Here is the full speech, and I will follow up with the video once it's released!

‎⁧‫#تجوع_ليحيا‬⁩
‎⁧‫#انقذوا_ليلي‬⁩
‎⁧‫#الحرية_لعلاء_عبدالفتاح‬⁩
‎⁦‪#SaveLaila‬⁩
‎⁦‪#FreeThemAll‬⁩

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#HeardAtRightsCon bsky.app/profile/jemi...

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Vita Activa is providing digital and emotional support to all RightsCon participants. Find us on Signal +52155-9171-1117 or schedule a meeting on tinyurl.com/vitarc25 Available from 6 pm to 8 am

Are you at @rightscon.org? Are you in need of emotional support? Schedule a conversation with @vitaactivaorg.bsky.social
#Youarenotalone
#RightsCon25

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📸 RightsCon session moments 📸

While we would love to participate in each and every of the 550+ sessions at #RightsCon2025, it would take us… *22 days* to do so back-to-back! So here’s a glimpse of what the sessions are looking like!

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