22 August 2012 - 6 November 2012

This e-learning course is a basic introduction to measuring and monitoring the status of children, including basic health and welfare, education, civil rights and freedoms, and special protection measures. The course will address the full cycle of monitoring, including tool development; methodologies for carrying out monitoring (both organisationally as well as through the involvement of children); and the application of results for improving the promotion and protection of children's human rights.

Learners will explore different indicators and indexes already in use and the basics of choosing or constructing a social indicator, with attention to the human rights-based approach. Through a blending of theoretical and case study material, the course will illustrate procedures for the appraisal, selection, development and analysis of monitoring approaches, although highly technical aspects of mathematical manipulation of indicators and statistical regression will not be addressed.

Course outline

Week 1. The Monitoring Concept and Developing a Strategy of Action
Week 2. Introduction to Children's Rights, and the Role of the International, Regional and Domestic Standards
Week 3. Basic Principles of Monitoring: Developing a Strategy of Action
Week 4. Indicator Construction and Analyses
Week 5. Community Approach to Monitoring and Children's Participation
Week 6. "Open week" 
Week 7. Monitoring and Indicators of Children's Survival and Health
Week 8. Monitoring and Indicators of Children's Education and Development
Week 9. Monitoring and Indicators of Child Protection – Children in Conflict with the Law
Week 10. Monitoring and Indicators of Child Protection – Abused Children and Children in Situations of Exploitation
Week 11. Preparation of Monitoring Reports and Follow-Up

Level: professional

Location: Internet (e-learning course)

Participants: human rights/children's rights staff of NGOs, intergovernmental and government agencies, children's advocates and child-related professionals. Participants should have a good written command of English -- the working language of the course -- and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

Tuition, fee, lodging: The course tuition fee is US$ 725; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 450. Tuition for auditors is US$ 275; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 175. There are no scholarships available for this course. Further information and application form can be found at: www.hrea.org/monitoring-child-rights.

Contact Information:
Sandra Quintin
Distance Learning Programme
HREA
689 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-3302
USA
Tel: +1 617 301-4379
Fax: +1 617 249-0278
E-mail: applications@hrea.org
Web: http://www.hrea.org