Rights Training Seminar,

[Katalin Fabian]

Subject: CfA: MRG Regional Advocacy and Rights Training Seminar,
Warsaw, 28.9-6.10.2004 (Reminder)


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

Regional Advocacy and Rights Training Seminar

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.
The application form is avaliable at
http://www.minorityrights.org/download.htm. 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 application form and
return to
mrg3.bud at 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.

Location: Poland
Deadline: August 27
--
Katalin Fabian
Lafayette College
Department of Government and Law
Kirby Hall 103
Easton, PA 18042-1780

Tel: (610) 330-5392
Fax: (610) 330-5397