| 3 February - 20 April 2010 | Application form | Application deadline: 1 December 2009
Instructor: Krassimir Kanev
This distance learning course provides participants with knowledge of the concept, types, venues and strategies of human rights litigation. It focuses on strategic litigation and legal aid both internationally and domestically, and explores a variety of strategies: issue or group oriented litigation, community based services, legal clinics, NGO or law firm resourced actions and others. Participants are familiarised with court ordered structural relief, as well as with conventional victim-centered legal remedies. Non-litigation strategies to maximise the chances of winning cases and to ensure the effective enforcement of decisions too are considered. The course places impact litigation in its social and institutional context exploring issues of its legitimacy, as well as the ethics and accountability of human rights lawyering. In the last part it highlights litigation for the vindication of several groups of substantive rights, including economic and social rights, freedom from torture, equality and asylum. Participants will be provided with examples from various jurisdictions in the world illustrating strategic human rights litigation in practice.
The course involves 50 hours of reading, on-line working groups, interaction with students and instructors, and assignments, and is offered over a 11-week period, beginning on 3 February 2010. The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. Participants will do the required reading, prepare individual and group assignments and participate actively in group discussions. The course draws on a variety of sources, including, but not limited to: ERRC/Interights/MPG, Strategic Litigation of Race Discrimination in Europe: From Principles to Practice (Nottingham: Russell Press Ltd., 2004); Richard Wilson, Jennifer Rasmussen, Promoting Justice: A Practical Guide to Human Rights Lawyering (IHRLG, 2001); Southern Africa Litigation Centre, International Treaty Obligations in Human Rights: A Practical Guide (2005); Litigating Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Achievements, Challenges, Strategies (Geneva: COHRE, 2003).
The maximum number of participants is 25. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation. It is also possible to audit the course.
Course outline
Week 1: Concept of Strategic Human Rights Litigation
Week 2: Types of Human Rights Litigation Strategies
Week 3: International Litigation – Mechanisms and Remedies
Week 4: Transnational and Domestic Litigation – Mechanisms and Remedies
Week 5: "Open week"
Week 6: Strategising in Practice
Week 7: Ethics of Human Rights Litigation
Week 8: Challenges and Obstacles to Human Rights Litigation
Week 9: Advocacy - Maximising the Effectiveness of Litigation
Week 10: Strategic Litigation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Week 11: Strategic Litigation in Cases of Discrimination
Instructor
Dr. Krassimir Kanev is Chairperson of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. He serves as a board member of a number of human rights organisations, including the Association for the Prevention of Torture and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Dr. Kanev teaches human rights and sociology of law at Sofia University (Bulgaria) and has taught at several universities in Europe and the USA. He has published on a variety of human rights issues and served as an OSCE and UN expert in trainings of NGOs and government officials in Europe and Central Asia. He has been an HREA e-learning instructor since 2003 for the courses Human Rights Monitoring, Human Rights Advocacy (in Russian), and Human Rights Litigation.
Who should apply
The course is particularly intended for legal professionals -- lawyers, staff working in legal advice centres, lawyers workings at NGOs. It is assumed that participants are familiar with the relevant human rights standards. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.
Costs
The course tuition fee is US$ 725; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 350. Tuition for auditors is US$ 275; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 125. Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available for this course.
* Current member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
Application
The deadline for applications is 1 December 2009. Applications received after that day unfortunately cannot be accepted. Successful applicants will be notified by 7 December 2009 at the latest. Full tuition payment for accepted participants is due on 21 December 2009.
On-line application
Frequently asked questions about HREA's distance learning courses.
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