Derechos: Human Rights Listings

The main objective of GTC-Treaty Bodies course is to empower organisations by training a representative to effectively use the United Nations Treaty Body (TB) system. The course is designed for experienced human rights activists and organisations that have the capacity to use the international human rights systems, in particular the Treaty Bodies in their everyday work. Besides providing participants with an introduction to international law, the course will also include lectures on intergovernmental organisations, international relations and lobbying and advocacy techniques. The training will focus on the work of the UN treaty bodies with an emphasis on the Committee Against Torture (CAT) and the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) which will be in session at the time of the training. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in the sessions, meet with committee members, other UN officials and members of International NGOs, as well as members of regional and local NGOs that will be present in Geneva attending the Committees. A significant contribution to NGO networking Following the training, our former participants communicate their experiences cross-regionally. This is a result of our training courses as they bring together, often for the first time, people from different regions working on various issues. Participants learn from each other and establish contacts that they themselves sustain after the course. Dozens of our former trainees are occupying key positions in the national and regional coalitions of human rights NGOs. Our organisation maintains close relations with them and sends them our analytical reports on UN meetings as well as briefings on forthcoming sessions on a regular basis. Main characteristics of the course The GTC – Treaty Bodies is an annual training course, which takes place during the sessions of two of the seven treaty bodies: the Committee Against Torture and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in November. The course provides a short introduction to international human rights law, procedures and issues of the different UN mechanisms, and the structure and function of the treaty bodies. The course will be a very practical one, highly oriented in the use of the international human rights system, especially the treaty bodies. By the end of the course participants will have: • Understood the TB system and its relationship within the larger international human rights system. • Analysed in depth the State reporting process and the role of NGOs within it • Met with key Committee Treaty members, and TB experts from OHCHR experts and INGOs. • Observed TB meetings and procedures. • Developed practical skills in lobbying and advocacy with committee members. • Developed particular knowledge and skills concerning NGO shadow reporting and communications. • Developed a TB action plan involving strategies and activities to effectively utilize the system upon their return to their workplaces. • Developed a TB training plan to build the capacity of other local NGOs working on similar Human rights issues. Participants should send a letter from their organization presenting their candidacy, as well as expressing the commitment of the organization in using the international or regional systems. The cost of the course is approximately 5,000 CHF (including accommodation, per-diems, health insurance, and airfare). All participants are responsible to find their own funding for the course, though with the permanent support of the International Service. Subject to funding, ISHR may be able to offer a limited amount of scholarships. To select beneficiaries of the scholarship, the organizers will consider, among other criteria, the efforts of the candidate towards securing its own funding. Highlights of the course: The course will consist of not more than 20 participants from around the world. A number of international NGO representatives also participate in the course. All participants are responsible to find their own funding for the course, though with the support of ISHR. In some exceptional circumstances, ISHR may be able to offer scholarships. The course begins with a general introduction to international human rights law, an overview of the UN system and the regional mechanisms where applicable and extended analysis on the treaty bodies. During the two weeks participants will have the opportunity to attend the sessions of the Committees, meet with committee member and UN officials as well as NGOs representatives. Over recent years, ISHR trainees have come from: Aceh, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Lebanon, Moluccas, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, Somalia, Swaziland, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Papua etc. Target groups The intended beneficiaries of the GTC – treaty bodies are participants who are expected to: Have been actively involved for three or more years in a human rights/development/humanitarian NGO or national human rights institution or an international human rights organisation; Have a basic knowledge of and experience in/with international human rights law and the regional and/or international human rights system; Be working in an organisation capable of using national, regional and international human rights systems; Be presently in at least a middle leadership position in the organisation; Be proficient in written and spoken English, preferably with an understanding of French or another UN official language; Represent organizations that have a potential for future partnerships with ISHR. ISHR welcomes applications from all NGO and NHRI representatives. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from representatives working in those countries whose state party is reporting to upcoming session of: • CAT (Hungary, Russian Federation, Mexico, Guyana, Burundi, South Africa, Tajikistan, Seychelles, Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Denmark, Netherlands, Benin, Estonia, Luxembourg, Australia, Norway, Uzbekistan, Japan, Zambia, Latvia, Indonesia, Portugal, Iceland, Sweden) • CESCR (El Salvador, Albania, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and countries reporting in 2007 and early 2008). Application The deadline to present applications is 31 August, 2006. For further information you can contact Andrea Galindo (a.galindo@ishr-sidh.ch) Manager of the Education and Training Unit and Legal Specialist, or Tony Morris (t.morris@ishr-sidh.ch), Principal Trainer. Please fill in the application form and send it with the rest of the required documentation either by post or email to the address below (only submit through one method). International Service for Human Rights Rue de Varembé 1 P.O. Box 16 CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: (+41) 22 733 51 23 Fax: (+41) 22 733 08 26 E-mail: courses@ishr-sidh.ch