Human Rights of Migrants, Migrant Workers and Their Families, Human Rights Education Associates (HREA), 3 February - 20 April 2010
This distance learning course explores the human rights of migrants under international law, concentrating on the application of these international legal regimes on migrants and their families, both regular and irregular.
In today’s globalised world movements of peoples across borders and regions of the world are more and more visible. As the demand for labour migration continues unabated, and migrant families establish themselves in countries not their own, states across the world have responded differently but certainly with more and more restrictions. In many countries, xenophobia is on the rise, particularly where migrants are seen to compete with jobs and where racism is easily incited. Moreover, inter-state cooperation on migration has taken the form of migration management focused on regulation of financial flows, better border-coordination and deportation facilitation. Meanwhile, many migrants, regular and irregular, find themselves in situations of vulnerability that restrict their basic liberties and limit their capacities to protect, let alone develop, themselves. In extreme cases, migrants are exploited in horrible circumstances or even find death at the borders or at the seas. Despite clear state obligations under international laws that protect rights of persons, including migrants, under their respective jurisdictions, more and more the policies of states and the regional groups they belong to go further and further away from the implementation of these obligations to protect the human rights of migrants.
The human rights of migrants under international are governed by a convergence of different international legal regimes: international and regional human rights law, international labour law, international criminal law and refugee law – each of these treating the protection of migrants through different lenses. For many migrant rights advocates, the challenge is to sift through these different legal regimes and utilise the most appropriate and useful legal norms and tools. At the same time, the identification of existing normative frameworks to protect and promote migrants’ rights is essential to ascertain existing gaps that will have to be addressed.
It will commence with the participants acquiring a firm understanding of the current definitions and issues relating to the human rights of migrants. The course will proceed to provide a comprehensive overview of the distinct but over-lapping international legal regimes on migration and explore the extent and limits of state sovereignty on migration issues. The bulk of the course will be devoted to examining each of these international legal regimes and how they protect the rights of migrants and their families. The course will also assimilate the current discussions on migration management from the perspective of human rights advocacy. Throughout the course a strong gender-perspective is integrated in all the discussions and conclusions.
The course is inter-disciplinary in its approach and draws on readings from the migration policy discourse, international relations, and international law. Knowledge of human rights and international law is beneficial, but not a prerequisite. In ten weeks of learning, discussion and interaction, an experienced course instructor will guide participants through the readings, discussions and assignments. She will provide information in form of on-line reading material, including web-casts and videos, use of external websites and in weekly "mini-lectures". The course involves approximately 50 hours of reading, on-line working groups, assignments, Internet chats and interaction among students, the instructor and invited guests, and is offered over a 11-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.
Who should apply
The course is aimed at university students and graduates of international relations, international law, politics and other areas, NGO staff members, staff of international organisations, migrant rights advocates and other practitioners. 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. It is also possible to audit the course.
Costs
The course tuition fee is € 525 for residents of OECD countries* and € 200 for permanent residents of non-OECD countries. Tuition for auditors is € 200 for residents of OECD countries and € 70 for permanent residents of non-OECD countries. 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
Applications received after that day unfortunately cannot be accepted. Successful applicants will be notified by 7 December 2009. Full tuition payment for accepted participants is due on 31 December 2009.