HUMAN RIGHTS AT RISK
ORGANISED CRIME AT SEA AND ACROSS BORDERS (OC-SAB)
International Scientific Conference | 2-4 July 2026
Romanian-American University, Bucharest
The present scientific conference is organized within the framework of the COST Action CA23103 – Life, liberty and health: ensuring universal protection of human rights at sea (BlueRights). COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a European organization that supports research and innovation networks, receiving funding under the Research and Innovation Framework Programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
The conference is additionally supported by the International Consortium against Trafficking in Persons “VIRTUS”, the European Centre for Legal Education and Research (ECLER), and the Human Trafficking Research Network (HTRN), the Center for Human Rights and Migration, and the Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence.
📅 Conference Details
Dates: July 2-4, 2026
Venue: Romanian-American University, Bucharest (Romania)
The OC-SAB 2026 Conference will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation either in person at the Romanian-American University or online via Teams.
The conference provides an encouraging academic environment for presenting research results, exchanging ideas, and strengthening international cooperation in the fields of fight against organized crime.
📘 Publication Opportunities
Selected papers may be considered for publication either in a peer-reviewed academic volume or as chapters in a book series with a leading international academic publisher, subject to an additional peer-review process.
📝 Key Deadlines
May 31, 2026: Online registration & abstract submission deadline
Online form: https://forms.gle/vN5EGvHQgS9jy4JWA
August 1, 2026: Full paper submission deadline (optional, for publication)
December 30, 2026: Publication of conference proceedings (projected)
We believe that your expertise and research interests would make a valuable contribution to OC-SAB 2026, and we would be pleased to welcome you to the conference.
More information:
The international scientific conference Human Rights at Risk: Organized Crime at Sea and Across Borders (OC-SAB) aims to establish an interdisciplinary academic forum bringing together leading scholars, practitioners and policymakers to critically examine one of the most pressing challenges of contemporary global governance: the complex, dynamic, and increasingly transnational nexus between organized crime and human rights violations in maritime and cross-border contexts. Particular attention is devoted to the growing role and implications of emerging technologies in reshaping criminal operations, enforcement practices, and the protection of fundamental rights.
The conference is intended for researchers and scholars, human rights experts, law enforcement professionals, investigative journalists, political scientists, psychologists, criminologists, medical doctors, specialists in emerging technologies, as well as military, security, and policy professionals, and other relevant experts. It aims to advance interdisciplinary scholarly inquiry into the mechanisms by which organized criminal groups, including those supported by states or engaged in hybrid operations, systematically undermine human rights, the rule of law, and democratic institutions. The conference further seeks to critically examine how states and international actors can respond to these challenges within existing and evolving legal, regulatory, and governance frameworks.
The conference is open to both categories of experts: those attending to learn from and engage in discussion, and those submitting original research for formal presentations. Participants and authors proposing to present a paper are required to register or submit an abstract of no more than 200 words, together with up to 10 relevant keywords, by 31 May 2026. Upon acceptance of the abstract, full papers of 5,000 words (recommended), presenting original research, must be submitted by 1 August 2026. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed academic volume. Registration should be made via the link provided below: https://forms.gle/vN5EGvHQgS9jy4JWA
In addition, based on the scholarly quality, originality, and significance of the research submitted, a curated collection of chapters addressing “Contemporary Transnational Criminal Challenges” is envisaged for publication with a leading international academic publisher.
The conference’s academic programme will be structured around thematic panels aligned with participants’ areas of expertise and research interests. Topics will include, but will not be limited to, the human rights implications of organized crime; the impact of transnational organized crime on democratic processes; physical and cyber-enabled human trafficking networks; and the evolving role of emerging technologies.
The 2026 Conference will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation either in person at the Romanian-American University in Bucharest, Romania, or online via Teams, facilitating flexible engagement and broad international participation.
In addition to paper presentations, the conference will inaugurate the Academy against Organized Crime, which will offer specialized training sessions focused on academic networking and research project development, as well as structured dialogues on transnational organized crime and human rights involving civil society actors, in accordance with participants’ interests (4 July). These initiatives are designed to promote interdisciplinary cooperation and research, stimulate critical debate, and generate policy-relevant outcomes.