The 29th Congress on the Contemporary History of Human Rights took place at the University of Salamanca on 9 and 10 September 2026, bringing together researchers and experts from various countries to reflect on and debate issues relating to history, memory and human rights.

The Congress, chaired by Professors M.ª Esther Martínez Quinteiro and M.ª Paz Pando Ballesteros, featured a varied programme, including in-person presentations and online working groups, promoting dialogue and the sharing of knowledge amongst researchers from different fields and academic contexts.

The UNESCO UniTwin Chair – The City that Educates and Transforms, led by ISEC Lisbon, was represented by its coordinator, Professor Isabel Baltazar, who delivered a presentation in person on 10 September entitled “Peace is the first human right”.

The presentation highlighted the importance of education for peace and human rights, in line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda and sustainability – themes that are directly related to the mission and objectives of the UNESCO Chair.

Participation in this Congress reinforces the commitment of ISEC Lisbon and the UNESCO UniTwin Chair to transformative education, based on the promotion of human rights, peace and sustainability, contributing to the creation of fairer, more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable cities and to the strengthening of international academic cooperation.