SHORT COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE LAW AND ADVOCACYBANGKOK, SEPTEMBER 2011
The Centre for Applied Human Rights (University of York, UK) will beoffering a 5 day post-graduate short-course on International Refugee
Law and Advocacy in Bangkok in September 2011. The course is offeredin partnership with the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), a
growing network of over 116 civil society groups and individualscommitted to advancing the rights of refugees in the Asia Pacific
Region.
The course will run from 12 to 16 September 2011 and will be held incentral Bangkok. There will be an optional 2 day field-trip to visit
refugee communities in Mae Sot at the end of the course (17 and 18September 2011).
OVERVIEW OF COURSE
There are more than 15 million refugees in the world. The overwhelmingmajority live in environments where their basic rights are not
respected – despite the growth of international and domestic normsconcerning the treatment of refugees and the increase in international
and transnational mechanisms through which breaches of those norms canbe addressed.
The short course provides a rigorous examination of internationalrefugee law and the rights of refugees. It focuses on the various
processes through which the rights of refugees are developed and canbe enforced. In adopting this focus, it seeks to address the
contemporary challenge of those advocating on behalf of refugees: howcan we engage the state and the international community so as to
better enable refugees to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled?
The short course also looks at the legal and practical situation ofrefugees in Asia as that illustrates key challenges facing the
international refugee regime. More than half the world’s refugees livein Asia, but most Asian states are not party to the international
refugee instruments. Although the course draws many of its examplesfrom Asia, the knowledge and skills it provides are equally applicable
elsewhere.
DELIVERY AND CONTENT OF COURSE
The course will consist of two elements: (i) a distance learning(online) component, and (ii) a 5 day classroom course. The online
component will be self-paced and provide course participants withbackground information about refugee law and policy, as well as
case-studies drawn from the Asia-Pacific region. The classroomcomponent will cover strategies to engage the various institutions of
the state to protect refugee rights, including the judiciary, nationallegislative bodies, and national human rights institutions. The
classroom content will be delivered by CAHR staff and also guestlectures by members of APRRN.
The highlights of the course include the following:
-Analysis of the structure and elements of international refugee law-Exploration of judicial engagement, including the use of
international legal arguments and the strategic litigation of refugeerights
-Analysis of domestic refugee laws and advocacy for law reform-Developing new fora for refugee advocacy, including developing
national legislative caucuses and engaging local government-The role of national human rights institutions and UN bodies
(including UNHCR and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council) inmonitoring and protecting the rights of refugees
A full prospectus with a detailed listing of the topics discussed inthe course can be found on the CAHR website (see below)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The course is intended for individuals already involved in or studyingrefugee issues. This includes civil servants dealing with refugee
issues, policy makers, lawyers, paralegals, civil society organizationstaff, caseworkers, post-graduate students, and refugees. The course
is particularly directed at those interested in refugee protection inAsia, although the issues discussed in the course apply to refugees in
all parts of the world.
FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Course fees are £450 (approximately 720 USD) and will include coursematerials, refreshments during the course, and lunch. Course fees do
not include accommodation but a range of accommodation is available tocourse participants the conference venue starting at around £25 per
night (40 USD); even cheaper accommodation options are availablenearby. A limited number of scholarships are available; scholarships
will generally consist of a fee waiver (eg. you will still beresponsible for the other costs of attending the short-course,
including transportation and accommodation).
Additional fees may be charged to cover the cost of the optional (endof course) trip to Mae Sot. These are expected to be around 110 USD,
including accommodation in and transportation to and from Mae Sot.Additional information about the field trip to Mae Sot will be emailed
to course participants once the details are finalised.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
All course participants who successfully complete the course willreceive a certificate of completion. In addition, it is anticipated
that the course will accredited by the University of York for 20post-graduate credits [200 hours of coursework]. An additional
assignment of 3,000 words will be required for this credit andadditional fees will be charged. Further information can be provided
ACCOMMODATION
The course will be held in central Bangkok. Accommodation isavailable at the conference venue and a range of accommodation is
available nearby for short course participants. Email APRRN forfurther information about local logistics (aprrn.officer@gmail.com).
APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
The deadline for application for admission to the course is 15 August2011. Early applications (especially for scholarships) are
encouraged; applications after the deadline may not be guaranteed aplace on the course. Applications and further information about the
course are available on the CAHR website:
Further information about APPRN can be found on its website:
For further information about applying for admission to the course;payment of fees; and, the content of the course please email the CAHR
Inquiries about local accommodation and local logistics should bedirected to the APPRN Secretariat at aprrn.officer@gmail.com.
Martin JonesLecturer in International Human Rights Law
Centre for Applied Human RightsUniversity of York, York, UK. YO10 5GD
Main Tel: +44 (0)1904 434 398Fax: +44 (0)1904 434400
