Call for Papers - Indigenous Rights: Self-Determination, Justice and Decolonial Futures

Happening On 03/12/2026

The Indigenous Rights Cluster at the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, School of Law, University College Cork, invites proposals for an interdisciplinary symposium exploring contemporary questions of Indigenous rights, justice and decolonisation. The symposium will form part of the formal launch of the Indigenous Rights Cluster.

About the launch symposium

The launch symposium will create a respectful space for dialogue among Indigenous leaders and knowledge holders, scholars, practitioners, activists, students and community partners. It will examine how law, policy, education and research can support Indigenous self-determination while challenging colonial structures and extractive approaches to knowledge. The event will be guided by Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), the principle ‘Nothing about us without us’, and a commitment to Indigenous leadership and meaningful participation.

Themes

We welcome conceptual, empirical, comparative, community-based and practice-led contributions. Proposals may address, but are not limited to:

• Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty and governance
• Land, territory, water, environmental justice and the rights of nature
• Language rights, cultural heritage and Indigenous education
• Climate change, biodiversity and Indigenous knowledge systems
• Political participation, representation and access to justice
• Development, extractive industries and corporate accountability
• Indigenous women, youth, persons with disabilities and intersectional rights
• Decolonising law, legal education, research methods and academic institutions
• Two-Eyed Seeing and respectful engagement across knowledge systems
• Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and related regional or domestic frameworks

Forms of contribution

We welcome proposals for individual papers of approximately 15–20 minutes.

Submission requirements

Please submit one document containing:

• A title and abstract of no more than 300 words
• A short biography of no more than 100 words for each contributor
• Institutional and/or community affiliation, where applicable
• A brief statement explaining any community partnership, consent process or Indigenous involvement relevant to the proposal

Send proposals to elena.kavanagh@ucc.ie with the subject line ‘Indigenous Rights Launch Symposium Proposal’ by 12 October 2026.

Selection principles

Proposals will be reviewed for relevance, clarity, scholarly or practice-based contribution, ethical grounding and fit with the launch symposium programme. The organisers will seek a balanced programme across themes, disciplines, career stages, regions and forms of knowledge.

Priority will be given to Indigenous-led contributions and work developed through meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities. Proposals concerning a specific Indigenous people or community should demonstrate appropriate engagement, attribution and consent. Early-career researchers, postgraduate students, practitioners, activists and community-based contributors are warmly encouraged to apply.

Participation and practical information

• There is no proposed fee for symposium participation, subject to confirmation.
• Limited support for travel or accommodation may be available; applicants should indicate whether support is essential to their participation.
• Online participation may be offered where feasible and appropriate.
• The venue will be accessible. Contributors are invited to identify access, interpretation, dietary or caring-related requirements when submitting.
• Presentations will not be recorded, photographed or circulated without the contributor’s prior consent.

Indicative timeline

We look forward to receiving proposals and building a launch symposium grounded in respectful dialogue, Indigenous leadership and shared learning.

For more on this story contact:

For questions about the launch symposium or submission process, please contact Dr Elena Kavanagh at elena.kavanagh@ucc.ie.