Human Rights Essay Award 2027 on Democracy, Human Rights and Participation (Full Tuition Scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law)

The Human Rights Essay Award is an annual award sponsored by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC, to encourage the production of academic articles in the field of international human rights law. The call for submissions for the 2027 edition is open.

The Academy treats international human rights law as including international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Past winners are listed on the Academy's website for every edition from 2016 to 2026.

Participants may choose any subject related to the topic, but the scope of the essay must directly correspond to the 2027 theme or it will be disqualified. The essay must keep a clear connection among the three components of the topic: democracy, human rights and participation. Essays may take regional, international, comparative, institutional or thematic perspectives.

Areas the Academy suggests include:

• Separation and independence of branches of government; judicial independence and impartiality
• Protection and political participation of minorities and historically marginalised groups; political pluralism and the role of political parties
• Equality and nondiscrimination; transparency and public participation in law and policy-making
• Labour rights and democratic participation; freedom of expression and of the press; civil society and civic space
• Social media, misinformation and artificial intelligence and their impact on elections and fundamental rights
• Election integrity; public security policies and human rights; accountability for gross human rights violations
• Weakening or capture of democratic institutions, and restoring democracy and the rule of law after authoritarianism

The same topic will be addressed at the Academy's 32nd Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition (16 to 21 May 2027), and Essay Award participants are eligible to be judges in that Moot Court Competition.

• Applicants must hold a law degree: Juris Doctor (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or equivalent.
• Applicants must have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law.
• Past winners cannot participate in future editions.

The rules state no nationality restriction, so Indian law graduates (LL.B. or equivalent) may apply.

• An unpublished legal essay in English or Spanish, written solely by the applicant. Essays written by two or more people are not accepted.
• One submission per applicant, in either English or Spanish. If more than one essay is received, the applicant decides which to submit officially; if no preference is indicated, the first essay received is considered.
• Maximum 35 pages including footnotes; an essay longer than 35 pages is automatically disqualified.
• Body: Times New Roman 12-point, double-spaced. Footnotes: Times New Roman 10-point, single-spaced. Normal character spacing, 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins, letter size paper (8.5 x 11 inches).
• Citation: The Bluebook; the Indigo Book is accepted as an alternative.
• The essay must be an academic legal article with extensive research, legal analysis and substantial footnotes.
• No names or identifying information in the essay.
• Essays are accepted only in Word format.
• A CV/resume of no more than three pages, explaining your experience or interest in human rights issues, submitted as a separate file through the online form.
• No other appended materials (no bibliography, list of websites or extra materials).
• Essays not following the format guidelines are reformatted and lose 5 points.

• Submit through the official online submission form (Google Form; Google sign-in is needed to open it). Read and follow the instructions on the form: failing to follow them may lead to disqualification.
• No emailed entries are accepted. After submitting, send an email WITHOUT attachments to humanrightsessay@wcl.american.edu informing the Academy of your submission.
• Deadline: essays must be received by 3 February 2027. Washington, DC is behind India, so submitting by 3 February in India keeps you safe.
• The Academy confirms receipt of every essay by email. If you do not receive a confirmation within five business days, contact the Academy; confirming receipt is the applicant's responsibility.

Six awards are given, three in each language: an Award for Best Essay and Honorable Mentions for the second and third best essays, in English and in Spanish.

The award for the Best Essay in each language is a full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, for either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance option, covering application and administrative fees and the academic courses the recipient enrols in, up to four courses. Travel, housing and per diem living expenses are not included and are borne by the winner. The scholarship is valid only for the Program held in the same year as the award.

Winners receive a certificate attesting to the award. The two best articles and the four honorable mentions may be published in the American University International Law Review.

A pre-selection committee reviews all valid essays and selects the final three in each language for the Honor Jury, composed of professionals with recognised expertise in international human rights law. Pre-selected essays undergo a plagiarism review. The Honor Jury's decision is final. Winners will be announced on 1 April 2027 and notified by email.

Submitted essays become the property of American University Washington College of Law, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, which reserves the right to publish them.