MINELRES: Fellowship programme for persons belonging to national or ethnic religious and linguistic minorities

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Original sender: Roma Network <romale@zahav.net.il>


http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/fellowprog.htm

 
Fellowship programme for persons belonging to national or ethnic religious and 
linguistic minorities

Five Fellows to be chosen for 2006.

Deadline for applications: 15 NOVEMBER 2005 - APPLICATION FORM here 
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/docs/applicationform2006.doc

(The implementation of the Fellowship programme is dependent on funding being 
made available)

Through this Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Human Rights (OHCHR) aims to give persons belonging to national or ethnic, 
religious and linguistic minorities, particularly young minority women and men, 
an opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of international human rights in 
general, and on minority rights in particular. The Fellowship Programme is 
intended to assist organizations and communities in protecting and promoting 
human rights. Five Fellows will be chosen to participate in this Programme to 
be held from the early February to end of April 2006. There may also be an 
opportunity to return to Geneva for the Working Group on Minorities of the Sub-
Commission, depending on the outcome of the UN reform process. 

The Minorities Fellowship Programme for 2006 will run from early February to 
end of April 2006. The five Fellows will be based at the Office of the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland for a 
period of three or three and a half months., from early February to the end of 
April and possibly returning to Geneva in late July early August for two weeks 
to follow the Sub-Commission�s Working Group on Minorities. During this period 
the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on 
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Commission on Human Rights will be 
in session. There will be an opportunity to learn about the work of National 
Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and establish contact with the 
representatives who will be participating in their International Coordinating 
Committee and with representatives attending the annual session of the 
Commission on Human Rights. Additionally, opportunities will be provided to 
establish contacts and to network and lobby with the non-governmental community 
and other inter-governmental organizations, such as UNDP. 

After an introduction to the work of treaty bodies, particularly CERD, and to 
charter-based bodies work particularly, the Commission on Human Rights, the 
five Minorities Fellows will be given the opportunity to learn about the 
country-focused work of OHCHR and about the practical ways of strengthening 
national human rights protection systems. Training will also be provided on UN 
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious 
and Linguistic Minorities and the work of the UN Working Group on Minorities. 

It is expected that the five Minorities Fellows at the end of the Programme 
will gain general knowledge about the treaty and charter-based bodies work on 
human rights, greater knowledge about the work of CERD and the Commission on 
Human Rights as it relates to issues of relevance to minorities. Furthermore, 
by the end of the Programme, each of the Minorities Fellows should be capable 
of giving trainings within their communities and organizations on the work of 
CERD and the Commission on Human Rights in general, and on minority rights in 
particular, and be able to disseminate the information and knowledge gained 
during the Fellowship Programme.

Five Fellowships will be awarded for 2006. Each Fellowship award will include 
the following :

1. An economy class air ticket from the country of residence to Geneva 
(return); 

2. A monthly grant to cover modest accommodation in Geneva for the duration of 
the Programme and other living expenses in Geneva ; and 

3. Health insurance for the duration of the Programme

4. The same coverage would apply should there be a need to return to Geneva for 
the Working Group on Minorities. 

Selection process and criteria :

The final selection of successful candidates will be made by an advisory group 
for the Minorities Fellowship Programme, which will include the members of the 
Working Group on Minorities, the Independent Expert on Minorities Issues and 
OHCHR secretariat. If a large number of applications were to be received, 
regrettably, only successful candidates would be contacted. 

The following guidelines and general criteria pertain to the selection of 
candidates for the Minorities Fellowship Programme: 

 The individual candidate :

1. Age should not be a limitation to participation in the Minorities Fellowship 
Programme, although preference initially will be given to candidates between 
25 - 35 years.

2. Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the 
Minorities Fellowship Programme, if relevant experience can be demonstrated. 

3. Candidates should have ability and willingness to train other persons 
belonging to minorities upon return to their respective 
communities/organizations.

4. The candidate should have the written support of their community or 
organization. 

5. The candidates must have a good understanding of the English language, as 
all trainings and debriefings will be conducted in English. 

 The sponsoring organization/association/community :

6. The overall goal of the Minorities Fellowship Programme is to offer persons 
belonging to minorities the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the 
field of international human rights in order to assist their organizations and 
communities in protecting and promoting human and minority rights. Therefore, 
it is important that the candidate proposed and nominated by a minority 
organization or community be someone who will return to his or her NGO to work 
in this field.

7. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization or association undertakes 
work on minority issues and is composed of persons belonging to minorities. 

 Other guidelines and criteria :

8. The selection of the Minorities Fellows should reflect a regional and gender 
balance.


9. Ten alternates should be selected in the event that any of the first five 
preferences will not be available for the period of the programme. 

Fellowship applications will only be taken into consideration if they are fully 
completed.

Fellowship applications must be faxed or sent by regular post. E-mailed 
applications will not be taken into consideration. 

Fellowship applications or any questions pertaining to the Programme should be 
addressed to : 

Minorities Fellowship Programme
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
UNOG-OHCHR
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Telephone number: (+ 41 22) 917 9204 or 917 9272
Telefax number: (+41 22) 917 9010 
E-mail: Applications@ohchr.org  

Deadline for applications: 15 NOVEMBER 2005

APPLICATION FORM
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/docs/applicationform2006.doc

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