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NGO Training on the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

16-19 May 2002

This training seminar on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The training is organised with the cooperation of the Directorate of Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The objectives of the training will be to:

- provide information on the content of the Convention and its monitoring mechanism;
- discuss and identify ways in which NGOs can best contribute to the monitoring of the implementation of the Convention, both at the domestic level and at the level of the Council of Europe;
- provide opportunities for participating NGOs to make contact and raise issues with Council of Europe staff, members of treaty monitoring body, and their government representatives to the Council of Europe; and
- develop follow-up activities, including networking throughout Europe.

The programme will include lectures by internationally recognised minority rights experts in order to provide an overview of the Council of Europe's human rights work, and minority rights instruments and mechanisms, including in-depth consideration of the Framework Convention and its monitoring mechanism. There will be task groups focusing on the development of NGO advocacy strategies to contribute to effective monitoring of State compliance and drafting additional information/alternative reports, as well as case studies and opportunities to share good practice. The programme is highly interactive and participative.

In addition, there will be opportunities to make contacts and liaise with people involved with the implementation of the Framework Convention, including governmental representatives from State parties and Council of Europe officials.

Level: professional

Location: Strasbourg, France

Participants: 25 NGOs from states that have ratified or are likely to ratify the Convention to the training. Participants will be selected on the basis of their organisations' institutional capacity and commitment to raise awareness of minority rights and monitor implementation of international instruments, specifically the Framework Convention.

Tuition, fee, lodging: Costs of travel, accommodation, and subsistence will be covered by MRG for all successful applicants. The deadline for applications is 14th March 2002.

Contact Information:
Magdalena Syposz
Minority Rights Group International
London
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +(44.20)7978-9498, ext. 211
E-mail: magdalena.syposz@mrgmail.org 
Web: http://www.minorityrights.org/