MINELRES: UN OHCHR fellowship program for minorities

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Chris Chapman <CHRIS.CHAPMAN@mrgmail.org>


Information on a fellowship programme for minorities at the OHCHR in
Geneva, Feb - May 2005
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/fellowprog.htm
 
Application forms:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/application.htm
Deadline for applications: 31 October 2004

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New - Fellowship programme for persons belonging to national or ethnic
religious and linguistic minorities - Five Fellows to be chosen 
 
Through this Programme, the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) aims to give persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities , particularly
young minority women and men, an opportunity to gain knowledge in the
field of international human rights in general, and on minority rights
in particular. The Fellowship Programme is intended to assist
organizations and communities in protecting and promoting human rights.
Five Fellows will be chosen to participate in this first Programme to be
held from the end of February to the end of May 2005 . 

The Minorities Fellowship Programme for 2005 will run from end of
February to end of May 2005. The five Fellows will be based at the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
in Geneva , Switzerland for a period of three months, from the end of
February to the end of May. During this period the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights and the Commission on Human Rights will be in
session. There will be an opportunity to learn about the work of
National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and establish contact with
the representatives who will be participating in their International
Coordinating Committee and with representatives attending the annual
session of the Commission on Human Rights. Additionally, opportunities
will be provided to establish contacts and to network and lobby with the
non-governmental community and other inter-governmental organizations,
such as UNDP and UNITAR. 

After an introduction to the work of treaty bodies, particularly CERD,
and to charter-based bodies work particularly, the Commission on Human
Rights, the five Minorities Fellows will be given the opportunity to
learn about the country-focused work of OHCHR and about the practical
ways of strengthening national human rights protection systems. Training
will also be provided on UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons
Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and
the work of the UN Working Group on Minorities. 

It is expected that the five Minorities Fellows at the end of the
Programme will gain general knowledge about the treaty and charter-based
bodies work on human rights, greater knowledge about the work of CERD
and the Commission on Human Rights as it relates to issues of relevance
to minorities. Furthermore, by the end of the Programme, each of the
Minorities Fellows should be capable of giving trainings within their
communities and organizations on the work of CERD and the Commission on
Human Rights in general, and on minority rights in particular, and be
able to disseminate the information and knowledge gained during the
Fellowship Programme. 

Five Fellowships will be awarded for 2005. Each Fellowship award will
include the following : 

1. An economy class air ticket from the country of residence to Geneva
(return); 

2. A monthly grant to cover modest accommodation in Geneva for the
duration of the Programme and other living expenses in Geneva ; and 

3. Health insurance for the duration of the Programme 

Selection process and criteria : 

The final selection of successful candidates will be made by an advisory
group for the Minorities Fellowship Programme, which will include the
members of the Working Group on Minorities and OHCHR secretariat. If a
large number of applications were to be received, regrettably, only
successful candidates would be contacted. 

The following guidelines and general criteria pertain to the selection
of candidates for the Minorities Fellowship Programme: 

The individual candidate : 

1. Age should not be a limitation to participation in the Minorities
Fellowship Programme, although preference initially will be given to
candidates between 25 - 35 years. 

2. Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the
Minorities Fellowship Programme, if relevant experience can be
demonstrated. 

3. Candidates should have ability and willingness to train other persons
belonging to minorities upon return to their respective
communities/organizations. 

4. The candidate should have the written support of their community or
organization. 

5. The candidates must have a good understanding of the English
language, as all trainings and debriefings will be conducted in English. 

The sponsoring organization/association/community : 

6. The overall goal of the Minorities Fellowship Programme is to offer
persons belonging to minorities the opportunity to gain knowledge and
skills in the field of international human rights in order to assist
their organizations and communities in protecting and promoting human
and minority rights. Therefore, it is important that the candidate
proposed and nominated by a minority organization or community be
someone who will return to his or her NGO to work in this field. 

7. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization or association
undertakes work on minority issues and is composed of persons belonging
to minorities. 

Other guidelines and criteria : 

8. The selection of the Minorities Fellows should reflect a regional and
gender balance. 

9. Ten alternates should be selected in the event that any of the first
five preferences will not be available for the period of the programme. 

Fellowship applications will only be taken into consideration if they
are fully completed. 

Fellowship applications must be faxed or sent by regular post. E-mailed
applications will not be taken into consideration. 

Fellowship applications or any questions pertaining to the Programme
should be addressed to : 

Minorities Fellowship Programme 
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
UNOG-OHCHR 
CH-1211 Geneva 10 
Switzerland 
Telephone number: (+ 41 22) 917 9204 or 917 9140
Telefax number: (+41 22) 917 9010 
E-mail: Applications@ohchr.org 

Deadline for applications: 31 OCTOBER 2004  
 
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