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The British High Commission has criticised the Zambian government and expressed regret over the cancellation of RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka, saying the summit was an important platform for advancing human rights discussions.
RightsCon, a leading international conference on human rights and technology, was scheduled to run from May 5 to 8, 2026, but was effectively called off by Zambian authorities in late April.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Chongwe on the sidelines of the Impact Capital Africa Summit Invest Fest 2026 held at Ciela Resort, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Rebecca Terzeon said the UK government was disappointed that the event could not proceed this year.
She noted that the cancellation came after challenging and complex circumstances faced by the organisers.
“We regret that they were challenging in complex circumstances which led to the ultimate cancellation of rights con here in Lusaka,” Terzeon said.
She emphasised the UK’s stance on human rights and civic engagement, reaffirming that the UK remained strongly supportive of human rights defenders and of creating spaces for dialogue to make progress on the agenda.
“We are strongly supportive of human rights. We’re strongly supportive of human rights defenders and of the need for spaces for dialogue about human rights to make progress on the agenda,” Terzeon said.
She also recognised RightsCon’s global role, describing it as an important international annual conference that very unfortunately hasn’t been able to go ahead this year.
Terzeon said she had raised the matter with Zambian authorities through diplomatic channels.
“I conduct diplomacy in the most effective way which is through private conversations and I have raised the rights con conference cancellation with government and other stakeholders through the appropriate channels,” she said.
On the response from government, Terzeon declined to detail private discussions but pointed to public statements already made on the matter.
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