Join AkiDwA for a two-day national symposium to advance equality, anti-racism and inclusive futures in Ireland.

AkiDwA is delighted to host its 2nd National Human Rights Symposium, taking place on 28 and 29 October 2026 at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in Dublin.

This year’s theme is:

Building Belonging: Migrant Rights, Equality and Inclusive Futures

The Symposium takes place as AkiDwA celebrates 25 years of advancing migrant women’s rights, equality, leadership and participation in Ireland.

Building on the success of AkiDwA’s first National Human Rights Symposium in 2025, this two-day gathering will bring together migrant women leaders, community representatives, civil society organisations, policymakers, researchers, practitioners and international stakeholders.

The 2025 Symposium resulted in the Joint NGO Statement on Migrant Rights, Anti-Racism and Human Rights in Ireland, which identified key priorities across access to justice, equality, gender protection, dignified work, youth participation, mental health and sustainable systems.

The 2026 Symposium will move the conversation forward from commitment to implementation and from dialogue to measurable action.

Participants will reflect on progress, share research and lived experience, identify continuing gaps and contribute to the development of a practical 2026 Action Roadmap.

Key Themes

The programme will explore:

Access to justice and legal protection

Equality, anti-racism and inclusion

Gender, protection and ending violence, including Female Genital Mutilation

Dignified work and living conditions

Children, youth and intergenerational leadership

Mental health, disability and accessibility

Sustainable systems, funding and accountability

Migrant women’s leadership, representation and intersectional experiences will remain central throughout the Symposium.

What to Expect

Across the two days, the programme will include:

Keynote addresses from human rights and policy leaders

Panel discussions

Research and practice presentations

Community and lived-experience contributions

Thematic workshops and breakout sessions

Policy dialogue with national and European stakeholders

Sessions on advocacy, leadership and coalition-building

Development of the 2026 Action Roadmap

Reflections on AkiDwA’s 25-year legacy

A full programme and speaker announcement will be shared closer to the event.

Event Details

Dates: Wednesday, 28 October and Thursday, 29 October 2026

Time: 10:00am–4:30pm each day

Venue: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

16–22 Green Street, Dublin 7, D07 CR20

Format: Hybrid event, with in-person and online participation options

In-person capacity is limited. Please register only where you intend to attend and cancel your ticket if your plans change so that the place can be offered to another participant.

Online access details will be issued to registered online participants before the event.

Admission: Free, but advance registration is required.

For further information, please contact us

Email: info@akidwa.ie

Telephone: 081 834 9851

Website: www.akidwa.ie

Description supplied by the event organiser.