Apply to join the Young Leaders Summit at RightsCon Costa Rica!

We are excited to bring back the Young Leaders Summit, a satellite event we hosted from 2017-2019 as part of the in-person programming of RightsCon.

The Young Leaders Summit is designed to better engage and integrate young people (ages 18-30) into the solutions-mapping and decision-making processes of issues at the intersection of technology and human rights. This one-day summit will take place on June 5, 2023 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm CST at the Costa Rica Convention Center before official RightsCon Costa Rica (June 5-8, 2023) programming begins.

What to expect from the Young Leaders Summit?

The RightsCon Young Leaders Summit brings together a diverse group of speakers, facilitators, and participants to discuss and engage with critical issues impacting young people in the digital rights space. The day-long program aims to foster connections and facilitate collaboration among Young Leaders, building upon their ongoing work. The program will include:

• Introductory issue-based sessions led by experts on critical topics within the RightsCon program that specifically affect youth;
• Career-specific sessions to empower young people with resources and advice to propel their careers within digital rights;
• Digital skills and security training led by experts and catered to the needs and interests of youth;
• Capacity-building and outcome-oriented sessions led by experts and youth leaders to discuss the challenges facing young people and ways forward;
• Networking opportunities among young leaders and high level folks and funders over morning coffee and lunch

Participants will also have opportunities for collaboration, engagement, and post-summit action, such as writing a RightsCon blog post, designing a roadmap for a specific issue, creating a Young Leaders network, or participating in official RightsCon programming focused on youth.

While we would love to accommodate all participants from around the world, we unfortunately are unable to provide accommodation or travel stipends to our venue in San José, Costa Rica. During the summit, however, we’ll provide lunch, snacks, and beverages, as well as RightsCon and Access Now swag. As a participant you’ll also receive a free ticket to attend RightsCon, as well as the opportunity to volunteer to build your resume.

Who can apply?

All young people (18-30) interested in technology and human rights are invited to apply. We aim to be transparent in our selection process, and we always strive to prioritize diversity in regards to gender, region, and accessibility needs.

Applications for the Young Leaders Summit are now open until May 1, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time. We will announce selected Young Leaders Summit participants on a rolling-basis until mid-May.

Can’t join us in-person? We will be hosting an online social hour before the Young Leaders Summit to provide an avenue for youth, participating at RightsCon both online and in-person, to get to know each other in advance of RightsCon Costa Rica. Details coming soon! Subscribe to the RightsCon Rundown to learn more.

If you don’t fit the demographic but have a session idea you’d like to contribute to the Young Leaders Summit program, get in touch with us at
[email protected] to discuss!