MINELRES: Course on European System of Human Rights Protection and Promotion

[Frank Elbers]

Call for applications for distance education course
"Introduction to fhe European System of Human Rights Protection and 
Promotion" (13 September-5 December 2004)

Dear Colleagues,

HREA is pleased to offer the distance learning course "Introduction to the
European System of Human Rights Protection and Promotion" again this year.
The course will be offered from 13 September-5 December 2004. You will
find further information and a detailed course description below.

Best wishes,

Frank Elbers
Distance Learning Programme, HREA
http://www.hrea.org/courses/

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HREA Distance Learning Course 9E04:
INTRODUCTION TO THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AND PROMOTION
13 September-5 December 2004

Instructor: Dr. Gerd Oberleitner

This distance learning course provides participants with practical
guidance on how to protect human rights through the European human rights
system, and specifically the institutions and treaties of the Council of
Europe. Participants will be introduced to the main European human rights
conventions and jurisprudence, primarily as developed through the European
Court of Human Rights. The course addresses European human rights
standards as they apply to civil and political rights, economic, social
and cultural rights, and the rights of minorities. Case studies on the
freedom of expression, homosexuality, violence against women, protection
of the mentally-ill, prisoner's rights, and the rights of refugees and
internally displaced persons, will deepen participants' understanding of
the European human rights standards and machinery.

The course is primarily intended for advanced (under)graduate students of
(international) law or social and political sciences; civic education and
history teachers; and NGO staff members. Participants should have a good
written command of English (the course language), have high competence and
comfort with computer and Internet use, and have regular access to e-mail
and the Internet.

The course involves approximately 60 hours of reading, on-line working
groups, interaction among students and instructors, and assignments, and
is offered over a 12-week period beginning on 13 September. E-mail will be
the main medium for the course, although participants will need to have
periodic access to the Web. This course will integrate active and
participatory learning approaches within activities and assignments, with
an emphasis on reflective and collaborative learning. Participants will do
the required reading, prepare interim and final project assignments and
participate in group discussions.

The maximum number of course participants is 25. Students who successfully
complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation. It is
also possible to audit the course. The course was developed in partnership
with the Council of Europe.


COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1. History and institutional structure of the Council of Europe
Week 2. The European Court of Human Rights
Week 3. Civil and political rights: The European Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Week 4. Civil and political rights: The European Convention for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
Week 5. Economic, social and cultural rights: The European Social
Charter
Week 6. Minority rights: The Framework Convention for the Protection
of National Minorities
Week 7. Other European human rights mechanisms: OSCE and European
Union
Week 8. Role of NGOs in the protection and promotion of human rights
Week 9. Role of the Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human
Rights
Week 10. Case Studies: Freedom of expression; Homosexuality
Week 11. Case Studies: Violence against women; Protection of the
mentally-ill
Week 12. Case Studies: The rights of asylum seekers; Rights of
prisoners


ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Gerd Oberleitner is a Lecturer at Centre for the Study of Human Rights
of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Holding a
PhD in law, he has lectured in international law and international human
rights law at the University of Graz (Austria) and in human rights courses
and summer schools at other universities. From 1998 to 1999 he also worked
at the Human Rights Department of the Austrian Foreign Ministry. In 1999
he co-founded the European Training Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
(ETC) in Graz and worked as the Centre' Executive Secretary until 2002.
In his research he focuses on the African, European and United Nations
human rights system, minority rights, economic, social and cultural
rights, and the role of non-state actors in human rights. His publications
include Human rights protection and State reporting (P. Lang, 1998) and
(as co-editor) Human Rights of Women - International Instruments and
African Experiences (ZED Books, 2002).


WHO SHOULD APPLY

The course is intended for university students, teachers and NGO staff
members of human rights/social justice organisations. Participants should
have a good written command of English and have high competence and
comfort with computer and Internet use. The number of participants is
limited to 25 per course. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and
geographical distribution across the selected participants.


COSTS

The course tuition fee is Euro 525 (tuition for auditors is Euro 200). A
limited number of scholarships is available for applicants from Council
Europe member states in Central and Eastern Europe/Newly Independent
States.


APPLICATION

The deadline for applications is 15 June 2004. Applications received after
that day unfortunately cannot be accepted. Successful applicants will be
notified by 1 July 2004. Full tuition payment is due on 15 August 2004.


APPLICATION FORMS

Application form (in Word and PDF format) can be downloaded at:
http://www.hrea.org/courses/9E.html

Inquiries about the course can be sent to <applications@hrea.org>



ABOUT HREA's DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMME

HREA's Distance Learning Programme (DLP) was initiated in 2000 in response
to an unaddressed need for the continuing education of human rights
professionals and practitioners. The programme builds on HREA's extensive
experience in both the training of professionals (teachers, advocates, law
schools) and the use of the new information technologies to provide
resources and to network human rights advocates and educators. By offering
short, practical yet specialised courses via distance learning barriers
that prevent many practitioners from participating in continuing
education, such as a lack of time and/or lack of funds to travel to
regional or national workshops/trainings, can be overcome. HREA annually
organises distance learning courses on human rights monitoring; research &
evaluation in the NGO Sector; project development and management; use of
information and communication technologies (ICTs) for human rights work;
rights-based programming; and human rights advocacy.

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international
non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the
training of activists and professionals; the development of educational
materials and programming; and community-building through on-line
technologies. HREA works in partnership with education agencies, NGOs,
governments and inter-governmental organisations to implement training
programmes for teachers, NGO staff, jurists and other professionals
involved in human rights work. Current and past partners include, inter
alia, Amnesty International, the Open Society Justice Initiative (formerly
COLPI), Council of Europe, Croatian Ministry of Education, HURIDOCS, the
Inter-American Institute for Human Rights, the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, University of Minnesota Human Rights Center
and UNESCO. HREA is registered as a non-profit organisation in the
Netherlands and the USA. More information on HREA can be found at:
http://www.hrea.org