MINELRES: CfA - MRG Regional Advocacy and Rights Training Seminar, 28 Sept - 6 Oct 2004, Warsaw

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Snjezana Bokulic <mrg3.bud@tla.hu>



Regional Advocacy and Rights Training Seminar

Minority Rights Group International
Warsaw, 28 September - 6 October 2004


Call for Applications


Minority Rights Group International's annual Regional Advocacy and
Rights Training Seminar (ARTS) will take place from 28 September - 6
October 2004. The topics covered will include:

"	International instruments for the protections of minority rights: UN
system, Council of Europe, OSCE and European Union;
"	Issues in minority rights protection and promotion; 
"	Skills for minority rights activists: advocacy, preparation of shadow
reports, delivery of interventions at international fora, negotiation
techniques.

The ARTS programme will consist of training by experts, participatory
work in smaller groups, and roundtable discussions. Training sessions
will focus on practical strategies, and participants will be encouraged
to discuss problems they are currently confronting. Exercises will be
geared to enhancing participants' technical advocacy skills, including
preparation of shadow reports for submission to treaty monitoring
bodies, preparation of interventions for delivery at international fora,
developing advocacy campaigns, and coalition building. Comprehensive
background materials will be provided. At the end of the programme, the
participants will acquire practical experience of participation at
international fora by attending the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting organized by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The
participants will have the opportunity to network and deliver
interventions at this event.

The objectives of this training are to:

"	Increase participants' knowledge of minority rights instruments;
"	Increase participants' ability to advocate at domestic and
international fora and provide them with the practical experience; 
"	Explore the relevance of international standards to South-East Europe;
"	Provide the opportunity to develop follow-up advocacy initiatives,
with ongoing support from MRG and co-organising partners.

Participants:  The seminar is intended for people already engaged in
human or minority rights advocacy in their country who are able to train
others on minority rights and international institutions. Participants
will be selected through an application process (an application form is
enclosed).  We will endeavour to have at least fifty per cent of
participants from minority organisations, and to ensure gender balance
and a balance between countries and communities represented.

In-country follow-up activities:  Some funds will be available for
participants to carry out follow up activities in country. Follow-up
activities can include any projects to increase understanding of
minority rights and enhance intercommunity cooperation, and contribute
to the effective implementation of minority rights standards.  Previous
follow up activities have included translation of materials, training
seminars, alternative reports, TV and radio broadcasts. Follow up
projects will be discussed at the seminar and selected by MRG according
to likely outcome. 

Funding: MRG will cover all costs for selected participants.
Participants are asked to make their own travel arrangements the cost of
which shall be reimbursed upon presentation of valid receipts during the
event. Full reimbursement is contingent upon the participant's full
attendance in the programme.

Participants' obligations: Full attendance at the training session and
the international forum is mandatory. Candidates who are not able to
attend the event in its entirety shall be deemed ineligible.

Applications: To apply, please complete the accompanying application
form and return to mrg3.bud@tla.hu by 27 August 2004. 
Group applications shall not be given consideration. 
Selected candidates shall be notified by 1 September and are expected to
confirm their participation before 6 September.

Eligible countries/entities: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Greece, Kosova, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. 



This seminar is part of MRG's Southeast Europe: Diversity and Democracy
Programme, which is financially supported by Charles Stewart Mott
Foundation, UK Department for International Development, the Swedish
International Development Agency, European Commission (CARDS) and
IrelandAid. For more information about the seminar, please contact
Snjezana Bokulic, Central and Eastern Europe Programme Officer,
mrg3.bud@tla.hu