Summer school Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Law 2026

Course information 
The information on this website will be updated from time to time, also to reflect changes in the draft programme.

The five-day summer school on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Law is held each summer at Leiden University; in 2026 from 29 to 31 July in the Hague and continuing on 3 and 4 August in Leiden. The dates for 2026 have been chosen to allow participants to also take part in the WorldPride Human Rights Conference (5 to 7 August in Amsterdam) and other events of WorldPride, EuroPride and Pride Amsterdam (all from 25 July to 8 August).

The course focuses on the emergence of SOGI and intersex issues in different areas of international law. Participants learn about the history of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in the international sphere, about current developments around the world and about the potential for future progress on equality. While some lectures will focus specifically on sexual orientation, on gender identity/expression, or on sex characteristics (together sometimes called SOGIESC), other sessions will focus on specific regions (including Africa, and Latin America) or on specific topics.

Special attention will be given to important precedent-setting cases that have helped to achieve some international protection against homophobia and transphobia. Themes include: global and regional human rights mechanisms, recognition of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in refugee law, protection for women and LGBTQI+ persons in international criminal law, and the role of international and non-governmental organisations. 

Coordinators:

Andreas R. Ziegler; Professor of Public International Law, University of Lausanne, Switzerland main editor of the Oxford Handbook of LGBTI Law

Elias Tissandier-Nasom PhD Candidate developing a child rights-based approach to SOGIESC, asylum law, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Martina Semino; student assistant 

Speakers:

Kees Waaldijk; Professor emeritus of Comparative Sexual Orientation Law, Leiden University, The Netherlands, founder of this Summer School, and of the Global Index on Legal Recognition of Homosexual Orientation

Benjamin Moron-Puech; Professor of Private Law and Criminal Sciences, Université Lumière Lyon II, France

Lisa Davis; Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Law, CUNY Law School, New York, U.S. and former Special Adviser on Gender Persecution to the International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor 

Graeme Reid; UN Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 

Lucas R. Mendos; PhD Candidate, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Formerly OHCHR Human Rights Officer (LGBTI Cluster) and ILGA World’s Research Manager 

Jessica Stern; Senior Fellow at Harvard University Carr-Ryan Center. Co-President of the Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice. Former U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons.

Masuma Shahid; Assistant Professor in International and European Union Law and Researcher on AI, Queer Data and LGBTQ+ Rights, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands 

Katinka Ridderbos; Country Guidance Adviser to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR (Division of International Protection)

Paula Gerber; Professor of Law at Monash University, Australia and Chair of Kaleidoscope Human Rights Foundation (an NGO advancing the rights of LGBTQI+ people in the Asia-Pacific region) 

Seun Bakare; Guest Researcher at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University, and Consultant for LGBTQ+ organisations in Europe and Africa

Claudio Pala; Head of the International Crimes Component at the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine and Deputy Lead Coordinator of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA). Previously, Head of the Criminal Justice Unit at EUBAM Libya, Head of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Department at the OSCE Presence in Albania, and Chief EULEX Prosecutor in Kosovo.Human Rights Researcher with ReportOut, documenting human rights abuses affecting LGBTQI+ people globally

Why this course? 
This summer school offers a unique opportunity to learn from established academics from Leiden University, as well as from world-renowned legal experts from elsewhere, many of whom have been involved in strategic litigation that has helped to achieve international protection and recognition for LGBTQI+ individuals and expressions (most speakers are already mentioned in the draft programme). Leiden University's Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies in The Hague is home to the world's only university chair in Comparative Sexual Orientation Law. 

The summer school provides a platform to network with fellow participants and speakers from all over the world. In each of the previous editions there were participants from at least five continents. And last but not least, this summer school allows you to discover The Hague - the International City of Peace and Justice and the city of Leiden. 

Target audience
Legal and other professionals in governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as advanced students are invited to apply. Completion of at least one year of university education including several law courses is required, as is some knowledge of human rights law and SOGIESC issues. For participants and potential participants, a list of online video/audio/reading materials has been put together: the Leiden Overview on SOGIESC in International Law (see the weblink on the left). These materials (some of which are by former and future speakers of this summer school) offer a good preparation for taking part.

To ensure active participation and exchange with teaching staff and fellow participants, circa 40 participants will be admitted to this course.

Registration: In order to start the registration for the Summer School, we kindly ask you to submit your CV and cover letter to: pao@law.leidenuniv.nl. Once we have checked and approved your CV and cover letter via email, you can proceed with your application and make the final payment.

Recommended Hotels: Due to the high demand for hotel rooms during this period, we recommend booking accommodation well in advance.
Remote attendance: Unfortunately, remote attendance is not available for this conference.
 

More info at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/summer-schools/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-international-law-human-rights-and-beyond

Do you have any questions? We will gladly answer them. 

E-mail: pao@law.leidenuniv.nl 
Phone: +3171 527 8666