The 18th Annual Human Rights in Asia Conference: “Human Rights, Technology and Development” - Day 1.

Join us as we navigate the Connectivity Paradox, exploring the tension between the promise of technological advancement and the reality of deepening inequalities across Asia.

This student-led initiative, in collaboration with the University of Essex Human Rights Centre, provides a platform for academics and activists to exchange knowledge and propose recommendations to strengthen human rights protections in Asia’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Human Rights, Technology and Development

This year’s theme, Human Rights, Technology and Development, critically interrogates the Connectivity Paradox and the tension between technological advancement and deepening inequalities, surveillance and exclusion across Asia. The conference explores the expanding digital divide through the lens of the Digital Poverty Trap and examines how institutional lag and a lack of digital literacy prevent marginalised groups from realising their Right to Development.

Programme highlights (Day 1)

Day 1 focuses on the immediate social impacts of rapid digitalisation and features two key panel discussions:

Gender Discrimination and AI
Addressing algorithmic bias, digital sexual exploitation and the ways male-dominated tech spaces infringe upon women’s safety and inclusion.

The Expanding Digital Divide
Examining how digital poverty, institutional gaps and lack of literacy prevent marginalised groups from realising their Right to Development.

Featured speakers and content (Day 1)

Keynote: Technology and Human Rights
An exploration of the historical and contemporary relationship between technology and human rights, with a particular focus on the Asian context.

Buhm-Suk Baek
Professor at Kyung Hee University Law School, Korea, and Rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council on emerging digital technologies and human rights.

Gender Discrimination and AI panel speakers include:
Dr Jaimee Stuart, Senior Researcher and Team Lead, United Nations University Institute in Macau
Jyoti Vadehra, Head of Online Safety and Wellbeing, Centre for Social Research, India

More speakers for Day 1 will be announced shortly.

Join us!

Reserve your spot now and be part of the conversation!

• Join us in person -please register via Eventbrite
• Register via Zoom, to join us online. 

The conference will take place over three dates: Day 1 on Saturday 7 March 2026, Day 2 featuring a film screening and discussion of Humans in the Loop on Wednesday 11 March 2026, and Day 3 on Saturday 14 March 2026.