Statelessness
APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2012 STATELESSNESS SUMMER COURSE.
THOSE WHO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE BEFORE 1 APRIL 2012.
- Arrival: 22 July 2012
- Course period: 23 - 27 July 2012
- Application deadline: 15 March 2012
- Max participants: 30
- Target group: See entry requirements below
- Course leader: Ms. Laura van Waas
Statelessness is a global phenomenon that currently affects as many as 12 million people worldwide. New cases continue to arise every day as states struggle with the challenge of ensuring that everyone enjoys a nationality. For those who find themselves stateless, the lack of a nationality commonly obstructs access to a wide range of other rights, to detrimental effect. Moreover, the harsh impact that statelessness has on the lives of individuals and the fabric of communities may contribute to social tension, forced displacement and even conflict.
The past few years have seen a growing acknowledgement of the true magnitude and impact of statelessness. However, much work remains to be done in terms of developing a full understanding of the phenomenon and building the required capacity to address it. Against this background, the Statelessness Summer Course offers a unique opportunity to learn about and reflect on the challenge that statelessness presents in the international legal system. Lasting one week, the Summer Course aims to enable people working in this and related fields - such as refugees, citizenship, human rights and anti-discrimination - to acquire new skills to better understand and tackle this problem.
A new and innovative initiative of the Statelessness Programme at Tilburg Law School and the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Course offers a stimulating curriculum taught by experts with academic knowledge and practical experience.
The Summer Course
Lasting one week, the Course aims to consider statelessness and the right to nationality from various angles. Beginning with a reflection on the concept of statelessness, the course will deal with legal and policy issues associated with statelessness. The Course will address the status of stateless persons, their human rights and right to international protection and ways to research and document statelessness. The Course will draw significantly on experiences from many places around the world, including in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East. In addition, the Course will take a closer look at a number of specific questions relating to statelessness, such as UNHCR's mandate and work, the influence of gender discrimination in creating statelessness, the detention of stateless persons and the litigation of the right to a nationality.
The Course aims to provide participants with new knowledge, tools and skills to address statelessness and enforce the right to nationality. The curriculum is thought by lecturers from a variety of backgrounds, both professionally and geographically. They are drawn from academia and legal practice as well as from NGOs and governmental bodies, and cover various regions.
Participants from all over the world will engage actively in the different sessions, with several opportunities throughout the week to work in smaller teams and focus specifically on their own area of interest. As such, the participants will benefit from the knowledge and professional experience of both the lecturers and their fellow participants.
Application procedure
A maximum of 30 participants will be admitted to the Course. Eligible candidates have experience in working on issues related to citizenship and statelessness, or significant experience in a related field such as minority rights, migration, forced displacement or child protection and an interest in the issue of statelessness. Such work experience may have been gained in NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, governments or research institutes and universities.
Moreover, as both the sessions and the Course materials will be in English, applicants should have proficiency in the English language. Foreign-language English speakers should be able to obtain a score of 7.0 in ELTS/IELTS or 570 in TOEFL as a minimum.
You can apply for the course by sending an email to: Statelessness.Programme@uvt.nl. Please add your CV and a letter of motivation as an attachment in your email and specify if you would like to be considered for a scholarship (see details below). The closing date for applications is 15 March 2012. All applicants will receive notice as to whether they have been selected for the course by 1 April 2012.
Costs
The course fee for 2012 is ¤ 950. This covers all weekday lunches, all tuition, all course materials, and a closing dinner. Other evening and weekend meals are not included in the course fees.
A limited number of scholarships are available for applicants who are able to demonstrate how their work would benefit from participation in the Course, but who would otherwise be unable to afford to participate. There are both half-scholarships (tuition fee covered by the scholarship) and full-scholarships (tuition fee, travel and accommodation covered by the scholarship). Should you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please indicate this at the moment of registration and be sure to explain how the Course would benefit your work in your letter of motivation.
Location, housing and facilities
An accommodation package is also available for participants, at a comfortable hotel within easy walking distance of Tilburg University's campus. The fee is ¤ 550, which covers 6 nights' bed-and-breakfast accommodation and bike hire (22 - 28 July). The costs of travel to and from Tilburg must be covered separately by the participant.
Wireless internet available in the rooms. Participants will also get an account to log into the computers on the campus, and they will learn where these computers are to be found upon arrival.
More information
For more information, please send an e-mail to the Statelessness Programme: Statelessness.Programme@uvt.nl.
Summary of Details
| Dates | 23 - 27 July 2012 |
| Location | Tilburg University, the Netherlands |
| Participants | Maximum 30 - Geographically mixed - From academia, legal practice, UN agencies, NGOs, research institutes, government |
| Tuition fee | ¤ 950 |
| Accommodation fee | ¤ 550 (6 nights bed-and-breakfast, 22 - 28 July 2012) |
| Scholarships | Limited number of half scholarships (tuition only) and full scholarships (tuition, travel and accommodation) available |
| Application deadline | 15 March 2012 |
| Questions? | Contact us via Statelessness.Programme@uvt.nl |
Global / English