The Netherlands Institute of Human rights (SIM) celebrates its 30th anniversary together with the valedictory lecture of one if its pioneers, Fried van Hoof. In 30 years the role of the regional human rights instruments and institutions has changed: their impact increased and thus more debate on their roles takes place. As the instruments and institutions are never a goal as such, but tools to increase social justice, the question has been raised what is, or should be their contribution to social justice? The speakers of the Conference on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of SIM and some of Fried van Hoof's former Ph.D candidates shed their light on various aspects of this question.