Course Announcement

RIGHTS-BASED CAMPAIGNING:
DEVELOPING STRATEGY, FORGING SOLIDARITY
A Post-Graduate Certificate Programme

The Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Studies at the W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata invites applications for an intensive post-graduate certificate course on ‘RIGHTS-BASED CAMPAIGNING’ to be held from July 13 to 30, 2009.

The course will introduce foundational and advanced concepts related to social justice, human rights, law in development and also equip participants with essential tools with which to strengthen campaign strategies using a rights-based approach. The course will allow participants to unravel challenges, share strategies, and discuss approaches, methodologies, strengths and limitations of their work. The course will have a special focus on the rights of marginalized groups like women, Dalits, sexual minorities, disabled people and their economic, social and cultural rights.

The broad issues to be covered in the course are:

- Foundational and advanced concepts in Human Rights Law
- Rights of special/ vulnerable groups with special focus on gender, caste, sexuality, disability, nationality and religion

- Human Rights and Development
- Rights-based Approaches
- Procedural and Constitutional Law on Human Rights in India
- Using the media strategically
- The politics of social movements and international aid
- National and international implementation and monitoring mechanisms of Human Rights Law

The course will employ a participatory teaching methodology where the sessions will be conducted by a distinguished faculty with the aid of selected readings, films, case studies, presentations and group activities.

The course is open to students/ practitioners with a commitment to doing human rights/ development work professionally. An undergraduate degree and proven experience in the social sector is desirable. Development workers, human rights activists, policy makers/ civil servants, social work and law students and those planning to do human rights work or pursue a career in the social sector are encouraged to apply.

Certificates will be awarded on successful completion of all the components of the course, which includes attendance, class participation, group presentations and a written assignment.

Important Information:
- Last date for receiving completed application forms is June 10, 2009
- Email application forms to nujscampaignscourse@gmail.com
- The course fee is Rs. 1500, which includes reading material, handouts and a resource CD
- The course will be held at the NUJS campus at Salt Lake every day from July 13 to 30, 2009 (barring Saturdays and Sundays) between 2pm to 6pm.

For more information contact:
Oishik Sircar <oishiksircar@gmail.com>, 9748964397
Payel Rai Chowdhury <payelrc03@gmail.com>, 9231897166
Ruchira Goswami <ruchira.goswami@gmail.com>, 9830550080

For application forms write to nujscampaignscourse@gmail.com