The course includes modules that examine the steps involved in strategic litigation, such as case selection, client care, and forum choice, as well as the specific legal stages of admissibility, exhausting domestic remedies and preparing substantive arguments.
Case studies will examine how to build a strong evidential record in support of the case, how to develop campaigning and advocacy to raise awareness of the issues involved, and how to implement a successful judgment. A faculty of human rights practitioners from the Open Society Justice Initiative and academics from Central European University will be joined by visiting experts, creating a wide body of expertise.
Workshops will focus on key skills such as advocacy in support of ligation, human rights research, legal drafting, communications, and dealing with the ethical problems that arise in human rights cases. Modules in specific subject areas will allow participants to examine key issues in their field, including citizenship and statelessness, discrimination, legal empowerment of the poor, national security, and torture and ill-treatment in detention.
Period
11-07-2011 - 15-07-2011 (1 weeks)
Target group
The course invites applications from human rights activists, policy workers and litigators, with 3 years' working experience, who are seeking to enforce the rights of the individual against the state. Some participants will have a legal background, and will be involved in bringing cases before the courts. Some will have a policy background, with an interest in seeking to persuade governments to effect reforms. Some may be professionals wishing to develop their skills in these new areas, but will bring experiences of other forms of human rights work. Participants from Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia will be particularly encouraged to attend. Pre-requisites: undergraduates without a university degree will not be considered.
Course aim
Human rights litigation is one of the methods by which civil society organizations can bring about social change. This course for human rights professionals will develop the skills and knowledge needed to successfully bring cases to the regional human rights systems and the UN Treaty bodies. Participants will be invited to provide information on concrete cases that they are involved in which will be discussed during the course.
Credits
0.0 ECTS creditsThe "Human Rights Litigation" course is offered for professional development for academics and practitioners. Those who wish to obtain credits that count toward their degree should consult their home institution in advance whether the CEU SUN course can be accepted for credit transfer. The CEU Summer University Office will be able to provide all course documentation, such as course description, syllabus, reading list, etc. upon request.
Course fee
EUR 300: The tuition fee is due by May 28, 2011.The tuition fee includes participation in the summer course, some administrative costs, an orientation program and welcome pack, access to the CEU Library and IT facilities, reading materials, printing quota, and some social activities.
EUR 270: Early Bird fee is available for tuition payment made before April 30, 2011.
Course leader
Rupert Skilbeck, Open Society Justice Initiative, New York, USA; Zaza Namoradze, Open Society Justice Initiative, Budapest, Hungary
Scholarships
Financial aid is available in the following categories:tuition waiver, accommodation grant and travel grant (full or partial).
Central European University Summer University
Address: 9 Nador Street
Postal code: 1051
City: Budapest
Country: Hungary
Website: http://www.summer.ceu.hu
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu
Phone: 361 3273811
Human Rights Litigation
