On the occasion of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council , 51st training course for defenders from the regions.
‘Course on the Human Rights Council, international human rights and humanitarian law, international procedures and diplomacy’
Hybrid Course, 7 to 23 March 2022
| Registration: info@gdh-ghr.org; On-line participation: link will be sent to selected trainees. In-person participation: in Conference room Caecilia, 16 rue Schaub, Geneva. |
Geneva for Human Rights – Global Training (GHR) conducts its 51st Geneva Course for defenders from the regions from Monday 7 March to Wednesday 23 March 2022, that is during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council (28 February to 25 March 2022).
GENEVA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
GHR is an international training organization. It aims at contributing to the implementation of human rights in the countries. GHR trains human rights NGOs, defenders, and all those involved in human rights at national level to empower them in the use of domestic, regional and international procedures, and to elaborate and realize implementation strategies.
Since the creation of the UN Human Rights Council (‘HR-Council’) in 2006, GHR conducted its Geneva Course during most of the ordinary sessions of the HR-Council. In recent years, GHR also organized with its partners in the field dozens of (3-4 days) inCountry Courses for defenders in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Botswana, Kenya, Bangladesh, Indonesia (Papua), Pakistan, Nepal, India, and Sri-Lanka.
GHR gives also Geneva briefings (especially for national NGOs coalitions) during sessions of the treaty bodies and of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It also convenes Experts Seminars on the main issues on the agenda of the HR-Council.
THE GENEVA COURSE (GSC)
The Geneva Course is an interactive and intensive training taking place during ordinary sessions of the 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 51ST GENEVA COURSE
The Geneva Courses are part of a Programme of GHR promoting a full and effective participation of defenders from the regions in the work of the HR-Council. Such participation is essential for the quality of the Council’s debates. Priority in the selection is given to defenders and NGOs from the regions. GHR also welcomes members of national and regional NGOs coalitions working at the HR-Council in Geneva, and trainees from international human rights organisations having their seat or representation in Geneva.
Unfortunately, with the restrictions due to the pandemic Covid-19, many defenders from the regions are still not able to come to Geneva. Most of the participants will therefore attend the Course on-line. The programme and working methods have been adapted to enable on-line trainees to fully benefit from the exposure to the debates in the HR-Council. At the same time, those who can travel to Geneva are welcomed to attend in-person.
PROGRAMME OF THE TRAINING COURSE
The Course is divided into a General Course (Week-1) on the international system and the HR-Council; a Course on the proceedings of the HR-Council (Week-2), to analyze the debates in the HR-Council, and on the conclusions and follow-up of the Course (Week-3).
- The General Course (7 to 11 March) presents an overview of international relations; international human rights, humanitarian and criminal laws; the UN mechanisms and procedures; the HR-Council; the OHCHR; and the use of the Special procedures, treaty bodies and UPR. Trainees will learn drafting communications to the special procedures.
- The Course on the HR-Council’s proceedings (14 to 18 March), introduces the main OHCHR and Special procedures reports submitted to the 49th session. Specific Courses will be given on transitional justice, women’s and indigenous peoples’ rights, enforced disappearance, SDG’s, the protection of human rights defenders.
- Week-3 (21 to 23 March) is devoted to the conclusions and follow-up of the Geneva Course, with GHR Course on human rights implementation in the countries (SDG’s, national plans, technical assistance, NGOs strategies inside the countries).
This last segment of the Course will be animated on-line by former trainees in the Geneva Course, who are still involved in the human rights movement, who will share their experience with the participants.
COURSE ADMINISTRATION
- The schedule of the daily classes (from 10:00 to 13:00, each morning, Geneva-time) makes it possible for defenders from Europe, Africa (similar times) and from Asia (afternoon there) to easily participate in the Course.
- For online-participants, deadline for applications is 3 March 2022. You can apply by sending a mail to info@gdh-ghr.org with copy to hps-smt@gdh-ghr.org;
- For in-person participants, deadline for application is 11 February 2022, as trainees will have to arrange their travels (including obtaining their visas) and accommodation. Costs of living in Geneva are high. Upon request, the Secretariat of GHR will provide a list of estimated expenses.
- To facilitate exchanges with and between the participants, all applicants are requested to fill the application form of the course.
- The programme includes for each presentation a short introduction and space for questions and answers and for discussion. GHR will also enable trainees to intervene on-line and/or to send their questions in advance.
- On-line trainees who will not have the live of the HR-Council’s session will be invited to follow several live and/or recorded UN sessions on ‘UN Web TV’.
- Tuition Fees for the Course is 1’200.00 Swiss francs (CHF). The fees include the full documentation and background papers as well as a personalized follow-up and implementation strategy briefing. The fees may be reduced on demand for human rights defenders from the regions having no sponsor.
To obtain the Course’s certificate, trainees have to attend all the ten classes and to comply
with several tasks: reading reports submitted to the HR-Council, drafting a country paper,
and a communication to the UN thematic procedures and reporting on one HR-Council
debates. There will be two written test for the participants.
Programme 51st Geneva Course 7 to 23 March 2022
Geneva time: 10:00 – 13:00
Bogotà: 04:00 – 07:00 New York: 04:00 – 07:00 Sao Paolo: 06:00 – 09:00 London: 09:00 – 12:00 Dakar: 09:00 – 12:00 Nairobi: 12:00 – 15:00 Delhi: 14:30 – 17:30 Colombo: 14:30 – 17:30 Jakarta: 16:00 – 19:00 Manilla: 17:00 – 20:00 Seoul: 18:00 – 21:00
Sunday 6 March:
On-line participants receive the link to attend the Geneva Courses.
In-person participants from the regions arrive in Geneva
14.00 – 15.00 Informal meeting with participants (on-line).
DAILY PLANNING
Morning classes 10.00 – 13.00 Geneva-time
· Virtual participation: daily link provided
· In-person participation: Conference Room Caecilia, Rue Schaub 16, 1201 Geneva
Afternoon 13.30 – 18.00 Geneva-time
Attending the HR-Council (webtv.un.org & physically)
WEEK-1: GENERAL COURSE 7 – 11 March 2022
Monday 7 March:
09.00 – 11.30 Confidential session: presentation of the participants. Key challenges
12.00 – 13.00 Course 1. The structure of the United Nations (main UN human rights bodies)
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council.
Tuesday 8 March:
09.30 Opening of the Geneva Course – Technical arrangements – Q & A
10.00 – 11.00 Course 2. The UN and human rights
11.00 – 13.00 Course 3. Tools of the HR-Council (Agenda, PoW, Annotated agenda, Bureau meetings, …)
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Wednesday 9 March:
10.00 – 10.30 Questions and comments on previous day
10.30 – 11.30 Course 4. The Human Rights Standards
12.00 – 13.00 Course 5. The Human Rights Council, its mandate and mechanisms
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Thursday 10 March:
10.00 – 10.30 Exchanges on the opening session of the HR-Council
10.30 – 11.30 Course 6. UN Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies and UPR Working Group
12.00 – 13.00 Course 7. Writing communications to the UN special procedures
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Friday 11 March:
10.00 – 10.30 Exchanges on the debates in the HR-Council
10.30 – 11.00 Course 8. Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
11.00 – 12.00 Course 9. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
12.00 – 13.00 Course 10. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
1st assessment/evaluation for the participants – Week-1 (by Email, during the week-end)
WEEK-2: THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL 14 – 18 March 2022
Monday 14 March: Deadline for papers on human rights patterns in your countries
10.30 – 11.00 Course 10 Summary of the first 2 weeks in the HR-Council and exchanges
11.00 – 12.00 Course 11 Racism on the UN agenda
12.00 – 13.30 Course 12 Women’s rights (mechanisms the Council; CSW; CEDAW; mainstreaming
women’s rights; UN Women, UN Security Council, rape of women in war time)
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Tuesday 15 March: Deadline for the draft letters to the special procedures
10.00 -10.30 Questions and comments on previous day
10.00 – 11.00 Course 13 Comments on draft submissions to the UN Special procedures
11.00 – 12.00 Course 14 The Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR)
12.00 – 13.00 Course 15 Reports submitted to HRC-49 by the High Commissioner and her Office
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person).
Wednesday 16 March:
10.00 – 10.30 Analysis of the debates in the HR-Council
10.30 – 11.30 Course-16 International Humanitarian Law
11.30 – 12.00 Course-17 Transitional justice.
12.00 – 13.00 Course-18 International Criminal Law
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Thursday 17 March:
10.00 – 10.30 Course-19 Comments on draft submissions to the UN Special procedures
10.30 – 12.00 Course-20 Human Rights Treaty Bodies
12.00 – 13.00 Course-21 The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Friday 18 March:
10.00 – 11.00 Course 22 Comments on draft submissions to the UN Special procedures
11.00 – 12.00 Course-23 Country debates in the HR-Council
12.00 – 13.00 Course-24 Human Rights Defenders and reprisals
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
2nd test for the participants – Week-1 (by Email, during the week-end)
WEEK-3 CONCLUSIONS AND FOLLOW-UP 21 – 23 March 2022
national plans & implementation perspectives & strategies training & monitoring
with the participation of Alumni, Practitioners & Experts
Monday 21 March:
10.00 – 11.00 Questions
11.00 – 12.00 Course-25 Recapitulation of the Geneva Course
12.00 – 14.00 On the occasion of the 50th Geneva Course: former trainees from Asia share their current work with the participants
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Tuesday 22 March:
10.00 – 11.30 Course-26 Strengthening domestic protection mechanisms
11.30 – 14.00 On the occasion of the 50th Geneva Course: former trainees from Latin America share their current work with the participants
Afternoon: Attending the session of the HR-Council (Webtv.un.org or in-person)
Wednesday 23 March:
10.00 – 12.00 On the occasion of the 50th Geneva Course: former trainees from Africa share their current work with the participants
12.00 – 13.00 Course-27 Using the UN to implement human rights inside countries: UN resolutions, recommendations and decisions (Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, UPR), national institutions (NHRI), national plans, public human rights policies, technical assistance programmes
13.00 – 14.00 Closing of the Course, comments & follow-up
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