Guidance
Prepare to host a session at RightsCon 2025 with our tailored guides for each format type and mode.
Session
Dialogue
In-person
Online
Session
Roundtable
In-person
Online
Hybrid
Session
Workshop
In-person
Online
Session
Private Meeting
In-person
Online
Hybrid
Session
Tech Demo
In-person
Online
Session
Lightning Talk
In-person
Online
Session trainings
We’re excited to bring back our session organizers’ training series for RightsCon 2025! The series features training for session design and facilitation, production briefings, and orientation sessions to get to know other organizers.
Find a date and time below that works for you and click the link to open the sign up form. Once you are added to a training session, you will receive a confirmation email to your inbox. You must register at least 24 hours before the training is scheduled to start. After that point, we cannot guarantee space or access to the training. All training sessions are optional but recommended.
Session design and facilitation training
Select based on your session format below:
Join the RightsCon program team and expert facilitation trainers from FabRiders for an interactive training session that will equip you to create engaging and inclusive sessions, focused on achieving your goal. These training sessions will provide you with practical tools for driving participant engagement and tailoring your session structure to meet your objectives, whether hosted in-person, online, or hybrid.
Workshop
Goal: Strengthen your ability to build skills, co-create resources or develop tactics during your RightsCon Session.
Workshop session design #1
Monday, November 25, 2024
4 am New York | 10 am Brussels | 4 pm Taipei
Workshop session design #2
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
4 am New York | 10 am Brussels | 4 pm Taipei
Workshop session design #3
Thursday, January 9, 2025
9 am New York | 3 pm Brussels | 9 pm Taipei
Workshop session design #4
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
9 am New York | 3 pm Brussels | 9 pm Taipei
Dialogue
Goal: Enhance your skills in fostering open and accessible conversations, drawing out important nuances and addressing power dynamics that can limit inclusivity and openness in dialogue.
Dialogue session design #1
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
Dialogue session design #2
Thursday, December 12, 2024
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
Dialogue session design #3
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
Dialogue session design #4
Thursday, February 6, 2025
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
Roundtable & Private Meeting
Goal: Learn how to build a trusted environment, gather diverse perspectives, and foster a sense of shared ownership.
Roundtable & Private Meeting session design #1
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
Roundtable & Private Meeting session design #2
Thursday, December 12, 2024
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
Roundtable & Private Meeting session design #3
Friday, January 10, 2025
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
Roundtable & Private Meeting session design #4
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
Production briefings
Select based on your session mode below:
New to RightsCon or looking for a refresher on the session production process? Join our production briefings to learn how to effectively prepare to host in an online, in-person, or hybrid environment. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the technical support available and best practices for hosting a smooth session in each environment type.
Online sessions
Formats: Dialogue, Roundtable, Private Meeting, and Workshop
Online production briefing #1
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
Online production briefing #2
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
In-person sessions
Formats: Workshop and Dialogue
In-person production briefing #1
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Taipei
In-person production briefing #2
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Taipei
Hybrid sessions and in-person Roundtables & Private Meetings
Formats: Private Meeting and Roundtable
Hybrid production briefing #1
Thursday, December 5, 2024
10 am New York • 4 pm Brussels • 10 pm Taipei
Hybrid production briefing #2
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
7 am New York • 1 pm Brussels • 7 pm Taipei
Orientation sessions
Select based on your preferred timezone below:
All session organizers are invited to attend this kickoff meeting to familiarize themselves with the basics of hosting a session at RightsCon, meet with other session organizers, and work together to maintain engaging and productive convening spaces.
Orientation sessions
Orientation session #1
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
4 am New York • 10 am Brussels • 4 pm Hong Kong
Orientation session #2
Thursday, February 20, 2025
9 am New York • 3 pm Brussels • 9 pm Hong Kong
Reminders
Register
RightsCon 2025, our first event in East Asia, will be hosted in-person at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), and online on the RightsCon Summit Platform. The summit will officially launch on Monday, February 24, and will conclude on Thursday, February 27.
All session organizers, facilitators, and speakers must register for RightsCon 2025 to ensure entry to the venue and platform. Registration closes for in-person tickets on February 17, 2025 and for online tickets on February 21, 2025.
You can apply the discount codes provided in our acceptance email to take 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% off the price of a ticket, for both in-person and online ticket types. Please note these codes are non-transferable, limited in use, and only intended for the organizers, speakers, and facilitators of your session.
Visit our Registration page for more information about ticketing and registration or read our blog post to learn about this year’s approach
Prepare
Planning and preparation is an important step in the RightsCon journey. Here are a few tips to help you coordinate and run an effective session:
- Design with an outcome in mind. Think about what you want to achieve and what you need from participants to reach that outcome. For example, if you’re seeking feedback on a project, point out where you need input. If you’re introducing a coalition, explain the benefits for new members and how people can get involved.
- Coordinate proactively. As the summit approaches, work with your speakers and facilitators to address any questions or concerns that may arise. Send an outline of the session in advance. If possible, arrange a call to do a dry run and check that you’ve allocated a suitable amount of time for each segment of the session.
- Embrace the unknown. We ask speakers and facilitators to avoid prepared statements and come prepared for interaction and debate. Even lightning talks and tech demos – which require some scripting – should leave room for off-the-cuff remarks and audience questions.
- Review our checklist. Session organizers need to manage a number of deadlines and points of communication. Take the time to read the guide for your format and mode, and refer to the included checklist to stay on track.
Attend
If you plan to attend RightsCon in-person, refer to our Plan Your Travel page for the most up-to-date information and resources.
Please carefully read the different pathways to obtaining a visa and follow the one for which you are eligible.
If you do not have an ROC (Taiwan) overseas mission in your country of residence, you can go through the eVisa through eCode process (i.e. Pathway 4), facilitated by Access Now and Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs. To apply for an eVisa through this process, you will need an eCode issued by Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Please fill out this form with complete and accurate information to submit your request for an eCode. The deadline to submit a request through this process is December 20, 2024, at 23:59 Pacific Standard Time.
Depending on which visa pathway you go through, you may need a visa invitation letter as part of the application process. To request an invitation letter, please fill out this form, and we’ll provide you with one.
For specific questions about visas, requests, or concerns regarding your journey to Taipei, contact our team at [email protected].
If you plan to attend RightsCon online, all you need is an internet connection and a ticket. As online and hybrid sessions are hosted in Zoom by default, we recommend participants download and test the Zoom desktop client on the device you intend to use for the session. The RightsCon Summit Platform – which hosts the official program agenda – will open to registered participants in early February 2025.
While organizers, facilitators, and speakers of online sessions are welcome – and encouraged! – to travel to Taipei and attend the summit in-person, please plan to use a hotel room or other quiet place outside of the venue to join the session, as the noise and activity level in the venue may not be conducive to a productive online experience.
Safety and Security
RightsCon is a community-oriented space, and registration is open to everyone. Creating a safe and positive experience for participants – whether in-person or online – remains our top priority.
Please review our Code of Conduct and participation and privacy policy to understand the expectations for behavior and conduct at RightsCon and our procedures for escalation and response, should incidents arise. We maintain the right to revoke access to the summit should a participant be found in violation of our policies.
We are currently developing our approach to COVID-19, communicable diseases, and general participant health and safety. We plan to share information with participants in November, but please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Our intention is to provide session organizers, speakers, and facilitators with the information and resources you need to make informed decisions about your participation at RightsCon. If you have concerns or considerations that may affect your summit experience, we want to hear from you.
- You can reach our team at [email protected] for all queries about RightsCon, including requests for PGP keys to send an encrypted message.
- If a member of your session intends to use a pseudonym or alternative ID, please contact our team at [email protected] to receive specific security tips.
- If you need immediate support for a Code of Conduct issue, email [email protected].
Diversity Standards
We take seriously our responsibility to build a program and a summit space which reflect the diversity of experiences embodied by our community. RightsCon’s standards on diversity, equity, and inclusion aim to address dynamics of privilege and power that impede trust, openness, and collective action.
We expect session organizers to act with intention and invite people from different parts of the world, with diverse expertise and lived experiences, to contribute to and shape the conversation. The structure of a session should ensure that facilitators and speakers receive equal time and space to share perspectives. Under no circumstances should a facilitator tokenize or pressure a speaker or participant to speak on behalf of an entire community. To learn more about best practices for leading an inclusive and collaborative session, check our new blog (coming soon!) on power and facilitation.
As a reminder, Access Now upholds a no tolerance policy for men-only sessions (“manels”). We will also look critically at sessions that only feature perspectives from white people.
In April, our team will conduct a diversity audit of all sessions to check representation related to region and gender, as reported in the update form. Based on the results of the audit, we may reach out to organizers to offer feedback or recommend speakers or facilitators from our network. In rare cases, we may pull a session from the schedule if our standards on diversity, equity, and inclusion are not met.
We welcome feedback on ways RightsCon can improve and better serve our global community. You can send comments and ideas to our team at [email protected].
Access and Inclusion
On language: Organizers should plan to run their session in the language which is most comfortable for their facilitators and speakers. Unfortunately, due to technical constraints, only a select number of online formats – workshops, roundtables, and private meetings – can support real-time interpreting. Further instructions are available in the guides for these formats.
Organizers of in-person or hybrid sessions may hire an interpreter to provide whisper or consecutive translation. Interpreters may request a discount code for a free ticket by contacting [email protected]. Please note: While RightsCon is unable to cover the costs of interpreters, due to budgetary constraints, our Connectivity Fund is available to organizers who need support to cover some of the costs of translation and/or interpretation services. You can read more about the fund on our Plan Your Travel page).
On accessibility: RightsCon’s approach to accessibility includes the intentional design of our summit spaces to account for the diverse needs, abilities, and priorities of participants, and taking steps to ensure these spaces are safe, supportive, and inclusive to disabled people.
You can find preliminary information about our accessibility efforts, such as optimization of the functionalities of our website and Summit Platform, and indicate your access requests on our registration page. Our team will also share a blog post on our accessibility approach as well as accessibility of the venue in December.
On financial support: RightsCon provides travel and connectivity support to a small number of civil society members from underrepresented groups who wish to attend RightsCon (February 24-27, 2025). Applications for both travel and connectivity are now closed and available funding has been fully allocated.
Resources
In each guide, you will find a session design template suited to your format and mode type. Use this template to structure and prepare your session.
In December, we will come out with templates for you to prepare branded slides for your session presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for RightsCon 2025?
You can visit our registration page for instructions about ticketing and registration. All participants, whether in-person or online, must register for RightsCon 2025 to ensure entry to the venue and platform.
Session organizers, speakers, and facilitators can apply the discount codes provided in our acceptance email to take 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% off the price of a ticket, for both in-person and online ticket types. Please note these codes are non-transferable, limited use, and only intended for the members of your session.
How do I prepare for my journey to Taipei?
If you plan to attend RightsCon in-person, please refer to our Plan Your Travel page for the most up-to-date information and resources about travel, visa support, accommodation, venue location, transportation, and more.
If you plan to attend RightsCon online, all you need is an internet connection and a ticket to enter the RightsCon Summit Platform. The platform – which hosts the official program agenda – will open to registered participants in early February two weeks out from the start of the summit.
Where can I find the answers I submitted in the proposal form?
To view or download your proposal form, enter the RightsCon Proposal Portal and select “Complete” under “My Applications” on the left-hand menu. Click “View” to see the form within the portal or “Print” to open the form as a PDF.
Can I request a change in format or mode?
Due to the unprecedented demand for space in the program, and the constraints and considerations of production of the event, our ability to shift the mode or format of a session, once accepted, is limited.
However, we understand that circumstances related to travel, health, or financial barriers may impact planning for in-person and hybrid sessions, in particular. If your plans change after the update form closes, reach out to us as soon as possible, and our team will try to accommodate the request and work to find a solution.
How much time is allocated for my session?
All session formats, except for lightning talks and tech demos, are scheduled for 60 minutes in the program. Talks and demos are scheduled for 15 minutes, which includes time for audience Q&A.
When will I find out the date and time of my session?
We will share the draft schedule with organizers in early December. If the date and time of your session presents an urgent conflict, please reach out to us at [email protected], and we will do our best to find a new slot.
Given the volume of sessions in the RightsCon 2025 program, the complexity in production, and the need to accommodate speakers and facilitators based in different time zones, we appreciate flexibility and understanding on the part of our session organizers as we build the program schedule.
When will I receive the assigned room for my in-person or hybrid session?
Organizers will receive room assignments and function sheets in early December, along with the draft schedule. You can learn more about the setup and tech specs for your room in the guide for your format and take a virtual tour of the venue to explore the full space!
When will I receive the room link for my online or hybrid session?
In order to maintain the security of the RightsCon Summit Platform, we will not share the link to your room until several hours before the session is scheduled to start. Please do not share the link with anyone except your facilitator and speakers; otherwise you may compromise the security of your session.
Organizers will receive a calendar hold for the date and time of their session the week before the summit launches. You can then invite your facilitator and speakers to the hold, which will populate with the link close to the session time.
Does my session support interpretation or closed captions?
Unfortunately, due to technical constraints, only a select number of online formats – workshops, roundtables, and private meetings – can support real-time interpreting. Further instructions are available in the guides for these formats.
Organizers of in-person or hybrid sessions can hire an interpreter in order to provide whisper or consecutive translation. Interpreters must be registered, and may request a free ticket by emailing [email protected].
Online dialogues streamed to the platform will include closed captions in the language the session is hosted in. Roundtables, workshops, and private meetings can enable closed captions in the languages supported on Zoom.
Will my session be recorded?
You can choose to have your session recorded if it’s hosted online and in one of the following formats: dialogues, lightning talks and tech demos. If you prefer to opt out of recording, you can note your permissions in the update form.
Only registered participants will be able to access and replay content on the RightsCon Summit Platform. We will send organizers the video file and guidance to brand the session in the months following the event.
What if a speaker or facilitator drops out at the last minute?
We advise all organizers to have in mind at least one person whom you can invite to the session on short notice, if a speaker or facilitator drops out. Our team is available to offer recommendations, but our capacity to support last-minute requests is limited and will decrease as the summit approaches.
Please note that drop outs are never an excuse to violate our policy on “manels” or our standards on diversity, equity, and inclusion.