[hre-asiapacific] Fellowship programme for persons belonging to national or ethnic religious and linguistic minorities

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME FOR PERSONS BELONGING TO NATIONAL OR ETHNIC RELIGIOUS
AND LINGUISTIC MINORITIES
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/fellowprog.htm

Five Fellows to be chosen for 2006.

Deadline for applications: 15 NOVEMBER 2005

(The implementation of the Fellowship programme is dependent on funding
being made available)

Through this Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) aims to give persons belonging to national or
ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, particularly young minority
women and men, an opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of
international human rights in general, and on minority rights in
particular. The Fellowship Programme is intended to assist organizations
and communities in protecting and promoting human rights. Five Fellows will
be chosen to participate in this Programme to be held from the early
February to end of April 2006. There may also be an opportunity to return
to Geneva for the Working Group on Minorities of the Sub- Commission,
depending on the outcome of the UN reform process.

The Minorities Fellowship Programme for 2006 will run from early February
to end of April 2006. The five Fellows will be based at the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva,
Switzerland for a period of three or three and a half months., from early
February to the end of April and possibly returning to Geneva in late July
early August for two weeks to follow the Sub-Commission's Working Group on
Minorities. During this period the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and
the Commission on Human Rights will be in session. There will be an
opportunity to learn about the work of National Human Rights Institutions
(NHRIs) and establish contact with the representatives who will be
participating in their International Coordinating Committee and with
representatives attending the annual session of the Commission on Human
Rights. Additionally, opportunities will be provided to establish contacts
and to network and lobby with the non-governmental community and other
inter-governmental organizations, such as UNDP.

After an introduction to the work of treaty bodies, particularly CERD, and
to charter-based bodies work particularly, the Commission on Human Rights,
the five Minorities Fellows will be given the opportunity to learn about
the country-focused work of OHCHR and about the practical ways of
strengthening national human rights protection systems. Training will also
be provided on UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to
National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and the work of the
UN Working Group on Minorities.

It is expected that the five Minorities Fellows at the end of the Programme
will gain general knowledge about the treaty and charter-based bodies work
on human rights, greater knowledge about the work of CERD and the
Commission on Human Rights as it relates to issues of relevance to
minorities. Furthermore, by the end of the Programme, each of the
Minorities Fellows should be capable of giving trainings within their
communities and organizations on the work of CERD and the Commission on
Human Rights in general, and on minority rights in particular, and be able
to disseminate the information and knowledge gained during the Fellowship
Programme.

Five Fellowships will be awarded for 2006. Each Fellowship award will
include the following:

1. An economy class air ticket from the country of residence to Geneva
(return);

2. A monthly grant to cover modest accommodation in Geneva for the duration
of the Programme and other living expenses in Geneva ; and

3. Health insurance for the duration of the Programme

4. The same coverage would apply should there be a need to return to Geneva
for the Working Group on Minorities.


Selection process and criteria :

The final selection of successful candidates will be made by an advisory
group for the Minorities Fellowship Programme, which will include the
members of the Working Group on Minorities, the Independent Expert on
Minorities Issues and OHCHR secretariat. If a large number of applications
were to be received, regrettably, only successful candidates would be
contacted.

The following guidelines and general criteria pertain to the selection of
candidates for the Minorities Fellowship Programme:


The individual candidate :

1. Age should not be a limitation to participation in the Minorities
Fellowship Programme, although preference initially will be given to
candidates between 25 - 35 years.

2. Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the
Minorities Fellowship Programme, if relevant experience can be demonstrated.

3. Candidates should have ability and willingness to train other persons
belonging to minorities upon return to their respective
communities/organizations.

4. The candidate should have the written support of their community or
organization.

5. The candidates must have a good understanding of the English language,
as all trainings and debriefings will be conducted in English.

The sponsoring organization/association/community :

6. The overall goal of the Minorities Fellowship Programme is to offer
persons belonging to minorities the opportunity to gain knowledge and
skills in the field of international human rights in order to assist their
organizations and communities in protecting and promoting human and
minority rights. Therefore, it is important that the candidate proposed and
nominated by a minority organization or community be someone who will
return to his or her NGO to work in this field.

7. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization or association
undertakes work on minority issues and is composed of persons belonging to
minorities.

Other guidelines and criteria :

8. The selection of the Minorities Fellows should reflect a regional and
gender balance.

9. Ten alternates should be selected in the event that any of the first
five preferences will not be available for the period of the programme.


Fellowship applications will only be taken into consideration if they are
fully completed.

Fellowship applications must be faxed or sent by regular post. E-mailed
applications will not be taken into consideration.

Fellowship applications or any questions pertaining to the Programme should
be addressed to:

Minorities Fellowship Programme
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights UNOG-OHCHR
CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Telephone number: (+ 41 22) 917 9204 or 917
9272 Telefax number: (+41 22) 917 9010
E-mail: applications@ohchr.org

Deadline for applications: 15 NOVEMBER 2005

APPLICATION FORM
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/docs/applicationform2006.doc



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