News headlines, political debates and global developments increasingly suggest that human rights are under pressure, but is this perception accurate? What is the current state of human rights policy in Flanders/Belgium and EU/globally, and what innovative human rights initiatives are emerging across businesses, public institutions, higher education, civil society, and among young people?
On 24 September 2026, CIFAL Brussels welcomes you to the very first Action Learning Platform Human Rights, a full-day event dedicated to strengthening human rights knowledge and practice across sectors. Through our Action Learning Methodology, we bridge academic expertise with its application in practice.
An initiative of CIFAL Brussels in collaboration with UN Association Belgium Flanders (VVN), and supported by Voka and the Government of Flanders.
It is open to everyone interested in understanding the current state of human rights, their connection to sustainable development, and the role that each of us can play in protecting and promoting them.
Practical details
- Date: Thursday 24 September 2026
- Location: CIFAL Brussels Training Centre, Voka building, Koningsstraat 158 Rue Royale, 1000 Brussels
- Language: Dutch
DRAFT Programme
09h00 Welcome with coffee and tea
09h30 Plenary Session
- Opening words by Geert Aelbrecht, General Manager Regional & Specialised Contractors, BESIX & Vice-chair CIFAL Brussels
- Keynotes by:
- Françoise Tulkens, Chair, Association pour les Nations Unies (APNU)
- Thomas Peeters, Legal Policy Officer Human Rights, Government of Flanders DKBUZA
- Analucía Jácome, Human Rights Specialist, UNITAR
- Johan Heymans, Managing Partner Criminal Law and Human Rights, VS Advocaten
- Andy Vermaut, Human Rights Defender
11h00 Break
11h30 Introducing the Workshop Sessions
11h50 Parallel Workshop Sessions: Human Rights in practice
Business Human Rights Due Diligence
- Topic: Business & Human Rights Toolbox ( https://business-humanrights.be) and Green Deal Value Chains ( https://omgeving.vlaanderen.be/nl/023-waardeketens)
- Geert Aelbrecht, General Manager Regional & Specialised Contractors, BESIX & Vice-chair CIFAL Brussels
- Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez, Research professor at Brussels School of Governance, VUB
- Thomas Peeters, Legal Policy Officer Human Rights, Government of Flanders DKBUZA
Governmental Human Rights Policy Making
- Topic: book “Tussen stadhuis en thuis: mensenrechten in onze stad” ( https://www.lannoo.be/nl/tussen-stadhuis-en-thuis)
- Fiona Ang, Co-author and Educational Coordinator, De Aanstokerij
- Rémy Bonny, Human Rights Defender
Higher Education Human Rights Assessment Test
- Topic: Human Rights Test ( https://vlir.be/nieuws/mensenrechtentoets & https://share.google/NK6nhff9QlEbX9UpV)
- Karen Van Bastelaere, Sustainability Coordinator, HOGENT
- Wouter Vandenhole, Professor Human and Children’s Rights, University of Antwerp (TBC)
Tools for Citizens/Youth and Children
- Caroline Vrijens, Flemish Children’s Rights Commissioner
- Mila Vervoort, UN Youth Delegate, Flemish Youth Council
13h00 Lunch
14h00 Pitch round Meet & Greet
- Short interview with Walter Van Steenbrugge, Founding Partner VS Advocaten, on his book “CIRCLE”.
14h20 Meet & Greet
- Connect with representatives of leading human rights initiatives and organisations in Belgium:
- VS Advocaten
- STEKR – Sterk in Kinderrechten
- Forbidden Colours
- Avocats Sans Frontières / Advocaten Zonder Grenzen
- UGent Human Rights Research Network (HRRN)
- Kazerne Dossin
- Çavaria
- WAPA International
- … and more!
16h00 End of programme
PARTICIPATION FEES
This exclusive activity is free of charge for CIFAL partners. We are also pleased to welcome interested organisations beyond our network. Participation by non-CIFAL partners is possible upon payment of the applicable participation fee:
- Partner CIFAL Brussels – Free of charge
- Member VVN | UNA Belgium Flanders – 35 EUR
- Member APNU – 50 EUR
- Member VVN Jongeren | UNYA Flanders – 10 EUR
- Students (with student card) – 20 EUR
- UN/NGO-CSO/Higher Education Representative – 75 EUR (excl. 21% VAT)
- Governmental Representative – 100 EUR (excl. 21% VAT)
- Company Representative – 125 EUR (excl. 21% VAT)
