Do prisons work? Can war ever be justified? These are some of the questions that will come under the microscope at a University of Worcester law-themed festival.
They are among a wide range of talks all open to the public at the Rights and Justice Festival 2026, which runs at The Hive on Thursday June 11 and Friday June 12.
Now in its second year, the free event, organised by the University’s Constitutions, Rights and Justice Research Group, in conjunction with The Hive, aims to offer insight on a variety of issues relating to rights and justice in a way that is accessible to all.
Dr Chris Monaghan, Principal Lecturer in Law at the University of Worcester and director of the Research Group, said: “It’s very much a chance to come along and just learn something new or think about some things differently that you did know about.”
He added: “The talks address contemporary issues and are designed to be interactive. These are hot topics presented by people who are really passionate about their area. There’s something for everybody. It showcases what the University has to offer in many ways.”
Alongside talks from Law and Criminology academics within the University’s School of Law, there will be contributions from lecturers in other University departments, including Psychology and History, as well as external academics and legal experts.
Talk topics include the jury system, eyewitness evidence, free speech, the UK constitution, the impact of laws against sex-based harassment, the right to education and the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the United Nations Human Rights Council, human trafficking and radical needlecraft in the 20th Century.
One of the events, on Friday June 12, is a panel discussion facilitated by Elena Lengthorn, Chair of the University’s Sustainability Forum, looking at whether justice can exist without empathy.
Ms Lengthorn said: “It’s worth people exploring all that’s on offer, as there’s such a range of topics covered and some, such as our discussion on empathy and its impact on the environment, that you might not expect. Events like this are really important in shaping our community conversations, highlighting key issues that we face and a possible way forward.”
The Constitutions, Rights and Justice Research Group was founded in 2021 and has held number of public conferences, workshops and lectures.
A full programme of events is available online, giving visitors the chance to explore what’s on and choose the talks that they’d like to attend.
Dr Monaghan said last year’s Festival had proved popular and organisers were keen to make it annual. “We can see the Rights and Justice Festival becoming a regular feature of the cultural landscape in Worcester,” he said.
“At the core it’s bringing together researchers from right across the University to collaborate and put on a public facing festival to engage the local community and break down barriers between the academic world and the public.”
Attendance is free, but people will need to register for each talk. Visit the Worcestershire County Council events webpages: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/events/rights-and-justice-festival-2026.
For more information, see the Research Group page on the University website: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/about/academic-schools/institute-of-arts-and-humanities/humanities-research/constitutions-rights-and-justice-research-group.aspx