Emma Gilligan offers a range of talks designed to spark thoughtful conversation on human rights, global justice, and the challenges we face in today’s world. Her presentations are grounded in deep research and real-world experience, and she easily connects with audiences of all ages, from school groups to professional organizations.
Each topic below can be tailored to fit the interests and experience level of your group. She also welcomes invitations to speak on timely issues such as the human rights dimensions of the war in Ukraine or the international response to other global crises.
For Lectures and Book presentations, please email.
This talk explores the origins and meaning of human rights through compelling examples and thought-provoking questions. What’s the difference between political and civil rights versus social and economic rights? Why do some countries prioritize certain rights over others? And who decides which rights matter most in a society?
Drawing on both historical context and personal experience, Gilligan helps audiences understand the complex yet essential journey of advancing human freedom.
This talk can be tailored to either school-aged children or adult audiences.
Since World War II, the global human rights movement has made remarkable strides, but serious challenges remain. From atrocity crimes tied to war and political upheaval, to the rise of authoritarian regimes offering easy answers to complex problems, many hard-won rights are under renewed threat.
This talk examines how issues like inequality, forced displacement, and the erosion of social and economic rights are testing democracies in both developed and developing nations. Drawing on real-world examples, Gilligan explores strategies for meeting these challenges through political, economic, and social action.
The talk can be adapted for both school groups and general audiences.
The global movement for human rights in business is changing how companies operate, with growing pressure to protect workers and the environment. Over the past two decades, it has become one of the most successful efforts to promote ethical business practices, reduce exploitation, and advance racial and gender equality.
This talk explores the evolving responsibilities of corporations to uphold human rights throughout their operations and supply chains. Gilligan examines the types of abuses that still occur in factories and fields worldwide, highlighting the broader environmental risks associated with irresponsible business conduct.
This talk can be tailored to either school-aged children or adult audiences.
This talk examines the role of dissidents in the post-World War II era, focusing on the political systems that sparked resistance movements — from the Soviet Union in the 1960s to present-day Iran. It examines what motivates individuals to stand up against state violence, how they cope with fear and personal risk, and the ripple effects of their choices on those around them.
Gilligan unpacks the strategies dissidents use to challenge authority. Are certain tactics more effective in specific countries, such as China or Iran? How do cultural and political contexts shape the way dissidents respond to injustice? And is there a universal approach to resistance, or do local dynamics drive their decisions?
This talk can be tailored to either school-aged children or adult audiences.
Globalization is a complex process with both positive and negative effects on human rights. In this talk, Gilligan explains how global economic, social, and cultural shifts have impacted people’s lives around the world. She examines the downsides, such as falling crop prices, abusive labor conditions, and the forced return of refugees, as well as the progress made through transnational advocacy. Globalization has helped build strong international networks that advocate for causes like fair trade, child labor reform, media access, and the investigation of atrocity crimes. Gilligan unpacks these paradoxes and highlights the work still needed to create a fairer distribution of resources and opportunity.
This talk can be tailored to either school-aged children or adult audiences.
Journalists and news broadcasters often mention terms like “war crimes,” “crimes against humanity,” or “genocide.” But what do these terms actually mean? What is the difference between a war crime and genocide? In this talk, Gilligan explains these criminal law definitions in clear, straightforward language, helping audiences understand how such acts are identified and interpreted during conflict. She draws on examples from the former Yugoslavia, Darfur, South Sudan, Rwanda, and the current war in Ukraine. Gilligan also outlines the origins of the International Criminal Court, its cases and investigations, and the challenges it faces amid ongoing conflicts across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
This talk is directed toward an adult audience.
With armed conflicts on the rise, questions about the laws of war feel more urgent than ever. Why is international humanitarian law struggling to meet today’s challenges? What are “grey zones,” “competition,” “hybrid warfare,” and “proxy warfare”? Has the nature of war changed, and how is the law adapting to these changes?
Gilligan examines why some states persist in violating treaties designed to protect civilians and prisoners, and why principles such as proportionality and humanity are so hard to uphold. The talk also highlights current debates and proposed reforms from the International Red Cross and legal experts.
This talk can be tailored for an adult or senior high school audience.
This talk explores how and why individuals and societies deny the reality of atrocities. Gilligan addresses the deeply human tendency to turn away from disturbing truths and unpacks the personal and political consequences that follow. Denial can obstruct peace efforts during conflict and threaten the path to justice and reconciliation afterward. Drawing from social psychology and real-world examples, she examines why people avoid media images, dismiss facts, or construct narratives that downplay suffering, torture, and violence.
This talk is directed toward an adult audience.
How can I live more ethically and still enjoy my life? Gilligan’s talk explores how to live as a 21st century citizen and adddress the challenges of climate change, the eradication of world poverty, negotiating trade and supply chains, and protecting universal human rights. She examines how even the smallest adjustments in our everyday lives can effect enormous change, from understanding the origins of our food, our clothes and what we can do to eliminate the waste we produce. Without radically upending our lives, Gilligan proposes a number of small steps that allow us to partake in the solutions to regional and global challenges.
This talk can be tailored for an adult or senior high school audience.
Interested in booking a talk or learning more? Email here to start the conversation.
