Raoul Wallenberg Institute & Poznań Human Rights Centre

Course on International Protection of Human Rights for university students from Belarus

Poznań, 27-31 August 2012.

In partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute the Poznań Human Rights Centre arranges a Course on International Protection of Human Rights for university students from Belarus from 27 till 31 August 2012.

Objective

The main purpose of the Course is to educate young people from Belarus in human rights at the academic level and help them to develop skills to act in the human rights field. The Course consists of lectures and case-studies held in English. It has an academic profile but also aims to develop some practical skills.

Themes

The Course will include the basic information about international human rights protection:

● Guarantees, sources, scope of protection;

● UN human rights system (UN Charter and conventions, treaty and charter bodies, Universal Periodic Review);

● UN mechanisms of individual complaints (case studies);

● Human rights protection in Europe (Council of Europe, European Union and OSCE; European Convention on Human Rights; European Court of Human Rights and its case law; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; OSCE instruments and mechanisms);

● Minority rights (Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Scope of minority rights protection in the UN system and in the European system);

● Discrimination and gender equality.

Prospective participants

The Course is dedicated to those university students (day form of study, 1-5 years of study) who are genuinely interested in human rights. Among all applications a group of 20 participants will be selected. English language knowledge at a level that is sufficient for applicants to follow and take active part in the Course is very important. To participate in the programme, applicants will need to present documented evidence of their good knowledge of English. It could be: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 500 points on the paper-based test (PBT), 170 for a computer-based test (CBT), 60 points on the internet-based test (IBT); International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a minimum score of 5.0; University of Cambridge exams: First Certificate in English, Certificate in Advanced English, or Certificate of Proficiency in English; Advanced Placement International English Language exam (APIEL): a minimum score of 3; or A signed statement from a current teacher of English language indicating applicant’s proficiency in English, with contact information of the teacher. Applicants will also be expected to submit a letter of recommendation from a current professor who can attest their interest in studying human rights.

Expenditures

All expenditures related to participation in the course will be covered by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

Deadline

The deadline for applications is 10 June 2012. Applicants should sent the application form together with a scanned copy of the document certifying proficiency in English and scanned letter of recommendation (both preferably in pdf format), to: applications@rwi.lu.se. Successful applicants will be informed by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute about their participation in the course by 30 June 2012 latest.