To Know – To Understand – To Act / Strategy – Training – Policy Studies – Implementation
To Know – To Understand – To Act / Strategy – Training – Policy Studies – Implementation
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2018-09 During HRC 39th – 43rd Training Course for Defenders from the Regions – 10-21 Sept 2018

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On the occasion of the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council, GHR organize its  43rd Training course for defenders from the regions

‘Course on the Human Rights Council, international human rights  and humanitarian law, international procedures and diplomacy’

Geneva, 10-21 September 2018

During the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council (10 – 28 September 2018), Geneva for Human Rights – Global Training (GHR) conducts its 43rd Geneva Course for defenders from the regions. This Course takes place from Monday 10 to Friday 21 September 2018.

THE GENEVA COURSE (GSC)
 
The Geneva Course is an interactive and intensive training taking place during the ordinary session of the Human Rights Council (‘HR-Council’). Trainees acquire basic knowledge in international human rights, humanitarian and criminal laws; transitional justice; inter-governmental organisations (IGOs); the UN, its structure, its reform and the role of its main organs; the trends in international relations; the functioning of the HR-Council and its mechanisms; the human rights standard setting process; and human rights treaty bodies.
            With the wide training experience of its trainers in Geneva, GHR Geneva Courses are unique. They combine the theory, the exchanges on the experience of the participants (field situations) and the exposure to the multilateral reality, which the trainees monitor. Composed of its researchers and interns from different universities, GHR Department of Human Rights Policy Studies (HPS) assists the trainees during the HR-Council’s session.

Participants in the 43rd Geneva Course
 
The Geneva Courses are part of GHR Programme ‘Participation of the Regions in the Human Rights Council’, which aims at a full and effective participation of defenders from the regions in the work of the HR-Council. This is essential for the quality of the HR-Council’s deliberations. Priority in the selection is given to defenders and NGOs from the regions. GHR also welcomes members of national and regional NGOs delegations attending the session of the HR-Council, and trainees from regional and international human rights organisations having their seat or representation at the UN Office in Geneva.
 
Programme of the training course

The Course takes place in Geneva during the 39th HR-Council’s session. It has two parts: the General Course (Week-1) on the international system; and the Course on the proceedings of the Council (Week-2) with daily morning classes to discuss the debates in the HR-Council (which the trainees monitor), to learn drafting communications to the UN special procedures, and to analyze the reports submitted by the Experts and the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), whose summaries will be presented by the trainers.

GENERAL COURSE (Week-1)

Themes of the General Course will be an overview on international human rights, humanitarian and criminal laws; justice in periods of transition; international relations; the UN mechanisms and procedures; the work of the HR-Council and of the OHCHR; the use of the special procedures, treaty bodies and UPR; and the strategies to foster human rights implementation inside countries. Specific Courses will also be given on transitional justice, women’s and indigenous peoples’ rights, and the protection of human rights defenders. This part of the Course includes the full-day Course on Tuesday 11 September.

COURSE ON PROCEEDINGS OF THE HR-COUNCIL (Week-2)

During the morning classes, the trainers will introduce and analyze most of the thematic reports submitted to the 39th session of the HR-Council by OHCHR and the Special Rapporteurs, as well as themes of High level Panels and country reports. Key topics will be the issues dealt with during the 39th session of the HRC such as, among others, enforced disappearances and indigenous peoples.
The Geneva Course concludes with GHR Course on human rights implementation in the countries (MDG’s, national plans, technical assistance, NGOs strategies inside the countries), the assessment and follow-up, and the general recapitulation of the Course.

To obtain the Course’s certificate, trainees have to comply with several tasks: submitting a paper on the patterns in their country; reading and summarizing reports submitted to the HR-Council, drafting reports on the deliberations of the HR-Council, drafting a communication to the UN thematic procedures; there are two written tests.

 

Finance and registration
 

  1. Deadline for applications is Friday 17 August 2018. GHR wishes to train trainers. It therefore requests a recommendation from the NGO and/or network of the applicant. Please note that obtaining a Schengen visa takes time.
  1. Participants should arrive in Geneva at latest on Sunday 9 September 2018. They will leave Geneva on Saturday 22 September 2018.
  1. Tuition fees for the Course is 1’200.- Swiss francs, CHF.
  1. It is a 2-week Course. Accommodation and living expenses in Geneva often constitute an obstacle for defenders from the regions to attend the entire session of the Council. For two weeks in Geneva, expenses are estimated 2’085.- CHF.

‘Geneva for Human Rights – Global Training’
Ecumenical Centre, 150 Route de Ferney
Case / P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 GENEVA 2, Switzerland
E-mails: info@gdh-ghr.org; & acz.hr@bluewin.ch;
tel. (41-22) 320.27.27 & (41-79) 345.82.00

ghr-gdh-07.2018

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