In 2004, GHR General Assembly launched the evaluation of GHR training experiences. In this process, two major programmes were adapted to strengthen the Global Training Department (GTP):
- the training programme for an effective participation of defenders from the regions in the work of the HR-Council (PRE); GHR conducts its Geneva Courses during each ordinary session of the HR-Council, and In-Country Courses in-between the HR-Council’s sessions (on the UN system and reform, the Council’s mechanis ms, the implementation in the countries, and new NGOs strategies);
- a programme to contribute to the national implementation process in specific countries through training, mediation, advisory services and teaching strategies (‘INP’). The first country programme (Mexico) was evaluated in 2007 to launch similar activities in other countries, in particular countries in transition .
The needs and priorities expressed by NGOs and defenders from several countries led to additional training initiatives:
- since December 2008, GHR conducts training Seminars during the sessions of the Working group of the HR-Council on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR);
- GHR held a Geneva Course during the Durban Review Conference (April 2009, follow-up to the World Conference Against Racism of 2001);
- GHR launched in 2009 a series of Specific Seminars on issues of concerns for those from the regions, in particular on humanitarian law;
- All the training activities for humanitarian actors, diplomats for partners were clustered into a ‘Training Programme for Specific Stakeholders’ (TSS);
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GSC-21, march 2010 - Geneva Course; lesson on 'Nation Building and Human Rights' by H.E. Ramos Horta.
from right to left: H.E. Ramos HORTA, President of Timor-Leste and member of Geneva for Human Rights; H.E. Joacquim DA FONSECA, Ambassador of Timor-Leste in Geneva and Adrien-Claude ZOLLER, President of GDH-GHR.
GHR Achievements
Over the last eight years, GHR carried out many training Courses, Seminars and briefings:
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Twenty-one (3 to 4 weeks) Geneva Courses for human rights defenders from the regions during the main UN human rights sessions (ECOSOC, Commission on Human Rights, the 2009 Review Conference on Racism, and all the ordinary sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, hereafter ‘HR-Council’);
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four (2 weeks) Seminars and two orientation and briefings sessions during the meetings of the UN Working group on the Universal Periodic Review;
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ten regional Courses: in Banjul, Gambia (with the African Centre, 2003), Seoul (national institutions, 2004), Kolkata (South Asian NGOs, 2004), Bangkok (team of Forum Asia, 2005), San José de Costa Rica (Course of IIDH, 2006), Kathmandu (with AITPN, indigenous peoples, January 2007), Kathmandu (with Save the Children, January 2007), Kolkata (with AITPN, October 2007), Bangkok (with ADRM, Dalits network, July 2008) and Kathmandu (with AITPN, indigenous peoples, August 2008);
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thirty-eight (3-4 days) Courses in the following regions: 15 in Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras), 1 in Africa (Kenya), 5 in the Russian Federation, and 14 in Asia: Bangladesh, Indonesia (West-Papua, 2), Pakistan, Nepal (5), India (4), Sri-Lanka (3) and for Tibetan defenders (in India);
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since October 2004 a comprehensive training and mediation programme in Mexico to support the process of the national implementation Programme;
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seven Courses for diplomats organized by the Graduate Institute of International Relations (IUHEI, Geneva);
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nine Courses for humanitarian actors (eight for the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC);
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six briefings for interns of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);
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twenty-one Courses given for partner organizations, including the World Council of Churches, UNITAR, the German NGO Forum and the F. Ebert Stiftung (Berlin), Forum Asia (Bangkok), Ecole Instrument de Paix (Geneva), the German Network on Papua (Wuppertal), Cordaid (The Hague) and Progressio (London);
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and a dozen of briefings for the international press and for NGOs attending the sessions of the UN Commission, Sub-Commission and HR-Council.
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