Join our Network
Hosted in Costa Rica and online, the first hybrid edition of the RightsCon Summit Series will welcome a projected 10,000 participants from 150 countries. Speakers receive access to:
a program of 400+ interactive sessions on the most pressing challenges at the intersection of technology and human rights;
opportunities to set up closed-door consultations with relevant stakeholders;
participate in satellite events, private meetings, and semi-private bilaterals; and
special promotion and production support for your session, which will stream live from the RightsCon Studio, our highest profile stage.
Enter the Studio
The RightsCon Studio is our summit mainstage, based out of our venue in Costa Rica. Broadcast to online and in-person audiences, the Studio is both a channel for “must-watch” content and a platform for prominent experts to offer perspectives on critical issues for our community.
Our network of past speakers includes Jacinda Ardern, Brad Smith, and Maria Ressa.
Meet our Host
Emmy-nominated journalist Melissa Chan will anchor the Studio program.
In conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Session: On Ukraine, Belarus, and the role of technology companies in combating the spread of information
In conversation with Chelsea Manning and Harry Halpin
Session: Mixnets, the future of privacy and its future influence on the whistleblower space
In-person Experience
In-person Experience
Register
Speakers should register through the RightsCon summit platform, select the in-person ticket applicable to your stakeholder group, and enter the discount code RC23STSPEAKER to claim your free ticket. Registration will close on May 29, 2023 or until venue capacity is reached.
Prepare
Confirmed speakers should complete the speaker form as soon as possible to indicate schedule preferences and other important information. Once the form is submitted, our team will work with you to finalize the date and time of the session and send a hold to reserve the spot in your calendar. The call time is set for 30 minutes before the session starts and will be factored into the calendar hold.
You don’t need to worry about production or technical support for your session. Once you arrive onsite, a member of our team will meet you at the check-in desk and direct you to the backstage area. Closer to the summit, we will send an email which provides instructions for a smooth arrival and outlines any specific considerations for your session.
What to wear? We recommend speakers dress in business casual or casual attire and stick to solid colors. Blue, burgundy, or muted neutral tones tend to work best on camera. Avoid white, black, and red, or clothes with stripes and patterns, which may create a distracting optical effect. Above all, wear what makes you comfortable and keeps you cool, as the stage lights can run hot. (In April, we’ll provide more information on our website about dress codes and packing recommendations for San José.)
Attend
Speakers who plan to attend in-person should carefully review our website’s attend page and the FAQ section below to understand the steps necessary to secure your travel and accommodation in Costa Rica and review our approach to COVID-19, safety and security, and accessibility in the venue.
Please note, in particular:
- the location of the Costa Rica Convention Center, our venue in San José;
- the location of the nearest airport, Juan Santamaria International;
- our process to request visa support, if you require a visa to enter Costa Rica;
- our accommodation options and reserved blocks at nearby hotels (CityExpress, Wyndham, Country Inn & Suites Radisson);
- options for shuttle service, which will run from 9:00 to 5:00 Costa Rica time (CST), and shuttle zones for nearby hotels;
- our approach to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- our Code of Conduct and protocols to create a safe and secure summit environment;
- our efforts to optimize the accessibility of our summit platform and venue.
Speak
Speakers who contribute to our program come to the table with distinct perspectives and lived experiences. We encourage you to speak directly and authentically to our community and avoid scripted or memorized responses.
Our team does not set boundaries on the content, focus, or framing of a session, but may offer tips and advice to help you make the most of our platform. As the summit approaches, we will also share guidance about the tools and methodologies available to increase audience participation.
Online Experience
Register
Speakers should register through the RightsCon summit platform, select the in-person ticket applicable to your stakeholder group, and enter the discount code RC23STSPEAKER to claim your free ticket. Registration will close on May 29, 2023 or until venue capacity is reached.
Prepare
Confirmed speakers should complete the speaker form as soon as possible to indicate schedule preferences and other important information. Once the form is submitted, our team will work with you to finalize the date and time of the session and send a hold to reserve the spot in your calendar. The call time is set for 30 minutes before the session starts and will be factored into the calendar hold.
You don’t need to worry about production or technical support for your session. Once you join the secure meeting room, a member of the RightsCon team and a technical moderator will be present at all times to provide support and answer any questions you may have. Closer to the summit, we will send an email which provides instructions for a smooth online experience and outlines any specific considerations for your session.
What to wear? We recommend speakers dress in business casual or casual attire and stick to solid colors. Blue, burgundy, or muted neutral tones tend to work best on camera. Avoid white, black, and red, or clothes with stripes and patterns, which may create a distracting optical effect. Above all, wear what makes you comfortable!
Attend
Speakers who plan to attend online should review our attend page and the FAQ section below to understand the steps necessary to facilitate your participation.
The RightsCon summit platform will open to registered participants on May 22, 2023, two weeks out from the start of the event. Once the platform launches, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the program, create a public profile, and search and save sessions of interest to build your own custom agenda.
Speak
Speakers who contribute to our program come to the table with distinct perspectives and lived experiences. We encourage you to speak directly and authentically to our community and avoid scripted or memorized responses.
Our team does not set boundaries on the content, focus, or framing of a session, but may offer tips and advice to help you make the most of our platform. As the summit approaches, we will also share guidance about the tools and methodologies available to increase audience participation.
Contact our team
Studio speakers can contact us at [email protected] for assistance at any point in the lead-up to the summit. Once RightsCon Costa Rica launches, we will provide a point of contact for immediate support or escalation related to in-person and online speaking opportunities.
Production
Access Now will work in partnership with Weymouth-Watson to support the production and technical choreography for the Studio. Live sessions will be scheduled in the window from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Costa Rica time (CST) and may be selected for replay at off-hours throughout the summit. Both a member of the RightsCon team and Weymouth-Watson will be available to support at the call time of the session and provide relevant cues for the duration.
Promotion
Studio speakers and sessions are promoted on RightsCon’s website, social channels, newsletter, and other public communications. With permission from speakers, we may also post recorded sessions on our official YouTube channel after the fact and pull select highlights to showcase the Studio and advertise RightsCon in future promotional efforts. You can note preferences and permissions for recordings in the speaker form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will Access Now host RightsCon Costa Rica?
RightsCon Costa Rica will be held in San José and online.
For those joining us in person, the venue for the summit is the Costa Rica Convention Center, a bioclimatic, eco-friendly, and sustainably-designed space located 20 minutes from the airport and just outside of central San José. Click here for a virtual tour of the venue!
For those joining us online, you can attend via the RightsCon summit platform , which will open to registered participants on May 22, 2023, two weeks out from the start of the event. Once the platform launches, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the program, create a public profile, and search and save sessions of interest to build your own custom agenda.
What should I know about travel and arrival in Costa Rica?
Check if you need a visa: To find out if you need a visa to travel to Costa Rica, we recommend Sherpa, a useful tool which tracks and compiles international travel requirements.
Simply enter the issuing country of your passport, where you’re traveling from (including if you have a connecting destination), your dates of travel, and click “see requirements.” Your trip summary will include whether or not you require a visa for your connecting flight or final destination, COVID-19 guidance, and other documentation requirements.
Check if any visa exceptions apply to you: We encourage you to check whether you qualify for any visa exceptions.
For example, if you have a valid multi-entry visa or a valid permanent resident card to Canada, the US, Switzerland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Iceland, or the European Union, you may be exempt from needing a Costa Rica visa. To check if you qualify, consult with your local Costa Rica consulate, if available in your city, or check official Costa Rica government sites (e.g. Costa Rica embassy in Washington, DC).
Upon arrival: Juan Santamaria International Airport serves the capital city of San José and is located 20 minutes by shuttle or taxi from our venue, the Costa Rica Convention Center.
Address: XQXW+43V, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa RicaCode: SJO
Does RightsCon provide visa support?
Yes! To ease logistical barriers and administrative costs, Access Now has established partnerships with the Costa Rica Migration Office and other relevant stakeholders to reduce requirements and streamline the processing of applications for visas on arrival.
To apply for a visa on arrival, please fill out our visa request form by April 7, 2023 at 23:59 Pacific Time. We will use the information supplied in the form to submit the necessary documentation to the required parties on your behalf. The form will ask you to supply your expected travel dates and a copy of the biodata (or photo) page of your passport, and provide instructions to obtain and submit an apostilled (i.e. certificate of authentication) criminal record check, which is required by Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).
If you choose to submit a request through this process, you do not need to submit a formal visa application through an embassy or consulate. We will send an update about the final decision of your visa application, relevant documentation to bring for your trip, as well as an official invitation letter by April 28.
Where should I book accommodation?
We have arranged a selection of courtesy blocks for in-person RightsCon participants to book accommodation. The below hotels are within walking distance from the venue and viewable on our custom map. Be sure to book your accommodation soon, as rooms are limited!
- CityExpress: To book, email [email protected] with code RIGHTSCON.
- Wyndham: To book, email [email protected] and [email protected] with code ACCESS NOW.
- Country Inn & Suites Radisson: To book, email [email protected] with code RightsCon2023
Does RightsCon provide transportation between my accommodation and the venue?
For the hotels mentioned above and those in surrounding areas, we will provide daily shuttle services to and from the summit venue. The shuttles will run in the morning to arrive at the venue by 9:00 am Costa Rica time, when programming starts, and leave the venue at around 5:00 pm, following the day’s final sessions.
Hotel zones where the shuttles will operate are identified by color on our custom map. We’ll share more information on the shuttle service closer to the start of the summit.
What is RightsCon’s approach to COVID-19?
The health and safety of the RightsCon community is important to us. We recognize the impact of COVID-19 is ongoing and the importance of communicating our approach and sharing resources to inform your decision-making around health and safety more generally. Our approach is driven by the policies of our host country, the size and scale of our event, and the reality of vaccine inequity globally. You can find more information about our approach to COVID-19 on our attend page.
What is RightsCon’s approach to safety and security?
Whether in-person or online, creating a safe space for participants is our top priority. RightsCon is governed by a Code of Conduct and a Participation and Privacy Policy. In addition, our Security Working Group will implement security and safety processes to ensure every participant enjoys a safe, enriching experience. In April, we will share more information on our website about our approach to safety and security, and specific guidance for RightsCon Costa Rica.
What is RightsCon’s approach to accessibility?
We are thinking intentionally about ways to ensure that every aspect of our summit, from the event venue to our platform to programming, is accessible to as many participants as possible, whether they’re joining online or in-person. Visit our website for more information about our approach to accessibility, and the specific steps we are taking to broaden access across RightsCon spaces.
What if I need support related to language or accessibility?
We will be happy to discuss specific needs that you may have, and provide options to support you and your participation in our summit.
If you have an access request that you feel comfortable sharing with us, you can mention this when filling out the speaker form or reach out to our team at [email protected].