What have human rights ever done for us? University of Leicester lecture explores the real impact of ECHR
Professor Alice Donald will deliver this year's CELI Annual Lecture (Credit: Middlesex University)
The University of Leicester is inviting members of the public to a thought-provoking lecture exploring the role of human rights in modern British society.
Hosted by the Centre for European Law and Internationalisation (CELI), the 2026 Annual Lecture: “What have human rights done for us? Quite a lot, actually”, will take place on Wednesday, 8 July at the University’s Sir Bob Burgess Building.
The free event is open to all and aims to engage a broad audience, including residents, students and school pupils with an interest in law, politics and current affairs.
The lecture will be delivered by Professor Alice Donald, Professor of Human Rights Law at Middlesex University and a former BBC journalist.
Professor Donald is a leading expert on human rights and democracy, with a strong focus on improving public understanding of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Her work includes recent reports for the Bonavero Institute that address key issues, including the broader case for continued UK membership.
The discussion comes at a time when the role of the European Court of Human Rights remains highly visible in public and political discourse. The lecture will explore the central question: what difference have human rights protections made in everyday life?
Professor Donald will examine how human rights laws influence UK legislation, safeguard individuals and support democratic values. The lecture will also consider the potential implications of proposals to withdraw from the ECHR and what may be at stake should existing protections be weakened or removed.
The event will begin with refreshments at 4:30pm, followed by the lecture at 5pm.
Event details:
- Date: Wednesday, 8 July
- Time:
- 4:30pm – Refreshments
- 5pm – Welcome by Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Henrietta O’Connor, followed by the Lecture
- Location: Sir Bob Burgess Building, University of Leicester
The lecture is free to attend and available both in person and online via MS Teams. No registration is required for online attendance. Simply click this link just before 5pm on the day.
For in-person attendance, please register here.