Submit Applications for Advanced Human Rights Course: Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

Deadline: 14-Aug-20

The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will host an online one-week intensive short course on indigenous peoples’ rights from 31 August to 4 September 2020.

The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, would like to inform applicants and prospective applicants of the Advanced Human Rights Course on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (31 August – 4 September 2020) that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of borders as well as academic institutions in South Africa, the course will be presented in a modified format — a format different from the conventional contact sessions.

The course will this year be presented virtually during the above period of one week, on Zoom. A limited number of applicants will be admitted to take part in the course. Lectures will be virtual, and participants will be required to do reading, submit assignments, and engage in exercises. There will be between 3 and 4 hours of interactive lectures a day. These lectures will be complemented by other activities.

Participants should therefore have access to reliable and consistent internet and must have the Zoom application on their laptops, desktop, cellphones or tablets.

An electronic certificate of participation will be awarded to all participants who successfully complete the course. Full participation is required for the award of the certificate.

The objectives of this one-week course include:

• to strengthen knowledge and capacity-building on indigenous peoples’ rights;
• to ensure a better understanding of indigenous peoples’ plight and rights among members of ‘mainstream NGOs’ and government officials;
• to stimulate the introduction of indigenous peoples’ rights into the curriculum of law schools on the African continent;

• Course date: 31 August – 4 September 2020
• Venue: Zoom (online)

• Conceptual issues regarding indigenous peoples in Africa.
• International (universal and regional) and national standards on indigenous peoples’ rights in Africa.
• Key substantive rights of indigenous peoples and their applicability in Africa.
• UN mechanisms of indigenous peoples’ rights.
• Regional mechanisms and indigenous peoples’ rights.
• Bilateral, multilateral cooperation, international financial institutions and business sector with indigenous peoples.
• Indigenous peoples’ challenges with development.
• International processes and agendas relevant to indigenous peoples in Africa.

• This advanced human rights course is aimed at members of NGOs, government officials, policymakers, legal academics, activists, researchers and students who are interested in the rights of indigenous peoples on the continent.
• Applications are invited from all around the world. The course will, however, have a particular African focus. Candidates from Africa are therefore particularly encouraged to apply. Members of indigenous communities are also encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit https://www.chr.up.ac.za/courses/ahrc/ahrc-indigenous-peoples-rights