REGIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

The Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT) has been running the Regional Interdisciplinary Course on Children’s Rights since year 2002. To date about 60 professionals from the 14 SADC countries working for children, and/or involved with the promotion and protection of the rights of the child have passed through this course.

The vision of the Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT) is to create a society in southern Africa that respects human rights. Its mission is to facilitate the development of a society in southern Africa that respects human rights, democracy and good governance. This will be achieved by mainstreaming human rights, democracy and good governance into public and other relevant institutions; through research, advocacy and training and through fostering a culture that promotes and protects human rights through community based initiatives.
Pursuant to its vision and mission, and in order to promote its objectives, SAHRIT is again offering a regional interdisciplinary short course on child rights from the 22nd of May to the 10th of June 2005.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
The course is designed for personnel in NGOs, government departments, and civil society organizations working with children, and/or for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.
COURSE CONTENT
Participants are exposed to theories and views on children’s rights and the course provides extensive information on the background, motivation, strategies and main trends in the field of children’s rights. Course presenters are experts from leading human rights institutions in Africa and other parts of the world.
The topics to be covered include:

• Concepts of human rights
• Main human rights instruments with emphasis on the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of Children’s Rights under the United Nations system and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
• Thematic issues on Children’s Rights in particular, HIV and AIDS, gender, child abuse, child soldiers, refugee children etc
• The Role of ICT in Human Rights and/or child rights
• Plan of Action

PLAN OF ACTION
In applying for the course, participants are expected to submit together with their application form a draft Plan of Action (of not more than TEN pages) using the format attached to the brochure or this document. The Plan of Action will further be developed during the course in Harare and implemented by the participant back in his or her country after the course. The Plan of Action exercise is a little project requiring minimal resources that will be carried out by the participant using own resources aimed at giving participants an opportunity to apply the knowledge learnt during the course in a practical manner. Participants are required to choose ONE topic from which to prepare a Plan of Action.

WORKING AND PRESENTATION METHODOLOGIES

Different working and presentation methodologies will be employed during the course depending on the subject. These include lectures, thematic feature films, panel discussions, working groups and workshops, informal sessions for sharing of experiences, getting to know more about each other and each other’s organizations and field visits. Participants will be provided with a reader containing human rights information, text books and handouts.

COURSE FEE
Applicants must be from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region (and currently living within SADC) in order to qualify for the available scholarship covering airfare, food and accommodation and a modest per diem. Non-SADC citizens and SADC citizens currently living outside of SADC are expected to meet their own costs. Participants will have to provide for their additional day-to-day expenses.

WORKING LANGUAGE
The working language will be English. Participants should be proficient in English.

CERTIFICATION
Upon completion of the course and satisfactory participation, each participant will receive a Certificate of participation.

HOW TO APPLY
Selection of participants is highly competitive and only two participants are drawn from each of the SADC states. To apply, please find attached application form.
Enquiries should be directed to: [email protected] OR [email protected]

Deadline
5 May 2005

What past participants say about the Regional Course on child rights:
“The Child rights seminar has in many respects boosted my career prospects”
- Dr. Charles M. Fombad, BOTSWANA
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“SAHRIT short courses are a give-and-take rendezvous and a mine of information. Enriching, practical and lessons-packed, with experienced participating institutions and lecturers, the courses equipped me with adapted-to-the-situation working tools.” - Claude Kalinga, DRC
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“SAHRIT trained 2 members from the Centre for Legal Assistance (CELA) in Malawi. CELA is involved in legal representation and alternative dispute resolution approaches. The course on Child Rights gave us new strategies, knowledge and expertise in facilitating the release of more than 60 juveniles in Malawi prisons within 4 months. .” - Charles Kasambara, MALAWI
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“The multidisplinary course on child rights has enabled me and my organization to effectively advocate for children's rights. In Mozambique child participation is predominately characterized by decoration and tokenism. Following the course we have established a child participation mailing list where one of the key issues we are working on is the elaboration of a child policy.
- Nyararai Magudu, MOZAMBIQUE