| 3 February-20 April 2010 | Application form | Application deadline: 1 December 2009
Instructor: Dr. André Keet
National human rights institutions have emerged as essential partners in the task of protecting and promoting human rights at the national and regional levels. Over the past twenty years there has been a significant increase in the demands made on national human rights institutions to act as key actors in the protection, monitoring and promotion of human rights. This course is an introduction to the nature, functions and roles of national human rights institutions (NHRIs). NHRIs take many forms. They can be categorised in terms of their mandate, their organisational composition, or the political and legal traditions within which they operate. For example, there are single- and multi-member institutions; those whose primary orientation is to advise governments on matters of human rights policy from those that handle individual complaints; and those working on all human rights from those focusing on specific issues, such as discrimination. Not only are there many typologies of NHRIs but they also operate in a range of conditions and traditions and with different levels of resources. What guides NHRIs are the so-called Paris Principles -- the main source of normative standards for national human rights institutions, whether they are Defensores del Pueblo in Latin America, Ombudsmen in European Nordic countries or advisory committees in other countries. Adopted by NHRIs at an international workshop held in Paris in 1991, the Principles marked the beginning of serious international co-operation and standardisation of NHRIs. Both the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly have endorsed the Paris Principles.
In ten weeks of learning, discussion and interaction, an experienced course instructor will guide participants through the readings, discussions and assignments in order to explore and critically reflect on national human rights institutions. He will provide information in the form of on-line reading materials, including Webcasts and videos, and in weekly "mini-lectures". The course involves approximately 50 hours of reading, on-line working groups, assignments, on-line chats sessions, Webinars, and interaction among students, the instructor and invited guests, and is offered over a 10-week period beginning on 3 February 2010. The course will integrate active and participatory learning approaches within activities and assignments, with an emphasis on reflective and collaborative learning. Participants will do the required reading, prepare assignments, including case studies, and participate in group discussions.
Course outline
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Legal framework: Paris Principles
Week 3: Generic functions and roles of NHRIs
Week 4: Typologies of NHRIs
Week 5: The International Coordinating Committee and regional networks of NHRIs
Week 6: The legal and monitoring mandates of NHRIs
Week 7: The human rights literacy and education and training mandate of NHRIs
Week 8: Relationship with civil society and other stakeholders
Week 9: Accountability and legitimacy of NHRIs
Week 10: Effectiveness of NHRIs
About the instructor
Dr. André Keet (South Africa) qualified as a teacher from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He taught at secondary schools for nine years. In 1996 he joined the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and was appointed as Director of the National Centre for Human Education and Training (NACHRET) of the SAHRC in April 2000. He headed the human rights and inclusivity task teams appointed by the Minister of Education to develop the National Curriculum Statements for General Education and Training and Further Education and Training from 2001 to 2003. From 2005 to 2008 he was the deputy chief executive officer of the South African Human Rights Commission. Currently he is the Director: Transdisciplinary Programme at the University of Fort Hare, a part-time Commissioner on the Commission for Gender Equality in South Africa and Associate Professor in Education at the University of Pretoria. Dr. Keet is the facilitator of the HREA distance learning course "National Human Rights Institutions".
Who should apply
The course is intended for university students and graduates of international relations, international human rights law, politics and other areas; NGO staff members, staff of international organisations and other practitioners interested in, or involved with, national human rights institutions. This course may also be of interest to staff of national human rights institutions themselves. Participants should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. The number of participants is limited to 25 per course. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants.
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.
Applications
The deadline for applications is 1 December 2009. Applications received after 1 December 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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