December 1, 2015 - December 4, 2015
CSO Event
The Short Course on Advocacy and Refugee Rights is an initiative organised by the Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group (LAAWG) of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) at Mahidol University. The course aims to strengthen participants’ capacity, expertise and knowledge in advocating for the rights of refugees in Asia and will provide an interdisciplinary overview on forced migration in the region covering political, legal, social, economic aspects. It will examine the role of civil society, governments, the media, UN agencies and develop an understanding how to better promote and advocate for the rights of refugees. The course will also discuss specific advocacy tools, highlight successful advocacy models and discuss the components of an advocacy strategy.
The course will be spread over four days and will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. The course will be spread into the following thematic areas:
- Refresher on human rights, refugee rights and migrant rights
- Understanding international instruments in the context of forced migration in Asia
- Introduction to advocacy & challenges in advocating for the rights of refugees in Asia
- The role of different actors in advocacy (UN agencies, civil society, networks, academia, media etc.
- National frameworks and tools (developing national laws, engaging the judiciary, strategic litigation, working with different parts of the government, national networking etc.)
- Advocating with and for regional frameworks
- Developing a successful advocacy strategy
- Practical tools: Utilising the media/social media in advocating for refugee rights; Engaging with the general public and fighting negative perceptions/myths; community engagement/civil society engagement strategies for effective advocacy
- Case studies of successful advocacy models
The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures and small group work, participants are expected to do in-depth reading and minor research before the course. Theparticipants will also conduct practical group work over the four days, giving them theopportunity to use the knowledge and skills acquired. The course will be presented by some of the leading experts working on forced migration issues in the region. They include academics, activists, pro-bono lawyers, UNHCR representatives and NGO workers. The course is made possible with the generous funding support of UNHCR and the Planet Wheeler Foundation.
DATES AND VENUE
December 1 – 4, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand (Venue to be confirmed)
PARTICIPANTS
About 20 to 25 participants are expected in the short course. The course is intended for individuals already working on forced migration issues in Asia, whether through service provision, advocacy or academic research. It is expected that participants will come from the following sectors: NGO workers, policy makers, lawyers, paralegals, caseworkers, researchers, post-graduate students and refugees themselves. Although the course will give preference to participants from Asia, those situated outside the region are also welcome to apply.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should have:
- Experience in working with, or on issues related to, forced migration
- Proficiency in the English language: The course will be conducted in English and no translation facilities are provided, participants should therefore have a sufficient command of English language.
ACCREDITATION
Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University and APRRN.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The deadline for application for admission to the course is September 30, 2015. Early applications (especially for scholarships) are encouraged. To register for the course please follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lYMPLdvmllOOleP90UWOXFOMCk9sggVXqeBEM6qy2w/ viewform
Short-listed applicants will be informed on or before October 15 by email.
FEES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The registration fee for the short course is 100 USD (non-refundable) and needs to be paid in cash by all participants on the first day of the course. Registration fees may be waived on exceptional circumstances.
APRRN will be able to offer a limited number of participants support with costs related to attending the course – this support will only cover flight costs and accommodation (other related costs such as local transport, visa, airport taxes, per diem etc. will need to be covered by the participants themselves). Breakfast (if you are staying at the venue), lunch and two coffee breaks will be offered for all participants.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Inquiries about the course, local accommodation and logistics should be directed to theAPPRN Secretariat at [email protected] and/or [email protected].
Further Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION
Inquiries about the course, local accommodation and logistics should be directed to theAPPRN Secretariat at [email protected] and/or [email protected].
