Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in USA

The Human Rights Essay Award 2027 is an annual international academic writing competition organised by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law.

The competition encourages the production of legal research and scholarly articles addressing important issues in international human rights law. It welcomes eligible legal professionals from different countries who wish to contribute to academic discussions surrounding human rights protection.

For 2027, the official theme is Democracy, Human Rights and Participation. Participants may select a specific legal issue connected to the theme, provided their essay clearly addresses the relationship between these three subjects.

The Academy encourages research into democratic institutions, the rule of law, public participation, political rights and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

Suggested Research Areas

Potential areas of analysis identified by the Academy include:

• Democratic institutions and the rule of law.
• Judicial independence and accountability.
• Minority rights and political participation.
• Freedom of expression and press freedom.
• Civil society and civic participation.
• Human rights and artificial intelligence.
• Electoral integrity and democratic governance.
• Equality, non-discrimination and political representation.
• Accountability for serious human rights violations.
• International humanitarian and criminal law where connected to the theme.

Participants must produce an unpublished academic legal article supported by appropriate legal research, footnotes and citations.

The Academy awards one prize for the best English-language essay and another for the best Spanish-language essay. Four additional submissions receive honourable mentions.

The winning essays and honourable mentions may also be considered for publication in the American University International Law Review, subject to its editorial standards.

• Hold a recognised law degree, such as J.D., LL.B., LL.M., S.J.D. or an appropriate equivalent.
• Be qualified as a legal professional under the applicable rules of their jurisdiction.
• Demonstrate experience or interest in international human rights law.
• Submit an essay directly connected to the 2027 theme.
• Write the essay individually; co-authored submissions are not accepted.
• Submit an unpublished academic legal article.
• Write the essay in English or Spanish.
• Submit only one essay for consideration.
• Ensure the essay does not exceed 35 pages, including footnotes.
• Use appropriate legal analysis, footnotes and citations.
• Follow the prescribed formatting and submission rules.
• Not be a previous winner of the Human Rights Essay Award.

The competition offers two principal awards, one for each language category.

Main Award Benefits

• Full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
• Choice of the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance option, subject to programme conditions.
• Coverage of relevant application and administrative fees.
• Coverage of academic course costs for up to four courses.
• Official certificate recognising the award.
• Potential publication of the winning legal article in the American University International Law Review.
• Opportunities for advanced learning and professional development in international human rights law.

Additional Recognition

• Two honourable mentions for English-language submissions.
• Two honourable mentions for Spanish-language submissions.
• Potential journal publication consideration for the four honourable-mention essays.

The official competition rules require:

• Original, unpublished academic legal essay in English or Spanish.
• Essay submitted in Microsoft Word format.
• Separate CV or résumé, no longer than three pages.
• Information requested by the online submission form.

Essay Formatting Requirements

• Maximum 35 pages, including footnotes.
• Main text: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced.
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10-point, single-spaced.
• Normal character spacing.
• One-inch margins on all sides.
• US letter-size pages.
• Bluebook citation style or the permitted comparable approach.
• No identifying information within the essay document.

The Academy evaluates eligible academic legal essays through a pre-selection committee and an Honor Jury consisting of professionals experienced in international human rights law.

Relevant assessment factors include:

• Clear relevance to the 2027 competition theme.
• Quality of legal research and analysis.
• Appropriate use of legal authorities and citations.
• Compliance with the official essay rules.
• Originality and academic integrity.
• Absence of plagiarism.
• Overall quality of the submitted academic article.

The pre-selection committee identifies three finalist essays in each language. The Honor Jury subsequently determines the awards.

• Gain international recognition for academic legal writing.
• Explore current challenges in democracy and human rights.
• Contribute to research in international human rights law.
• Compete for a full tuition scholarship to advanced legal studies.
• Strengthen legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Receive recognition from an established academic institution.
• Gain potential consideration for publication in an international law journal.
• Connect academic research with contemporary human rights challenges.