30aprAll DayTrafficking in Persons (30 April – 10 June, 2025)

Event Details

This course can be taken as stand-alone, or as part of the Diploma in Human Rights and Forced Displacement.

Course Description

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a global human rights violation that constitutes a contemporary form of slavery. It has acquired alarming proportions generating profits of billions of dollars annually, an organized trade in which women and girls are particularly vulnerable. This course is designed to introduce participants to the different manifestations of trafficking, and to examine the broad spectrum of issues related to trafficking from an international and regional legal framework perspective. The course is oriented towards a human rights based approach to TIP and the recognition of the trafficked person as a ‘victim of crime’. Special emphasis will be given to developing an understanding of the measures taken to protect human rights of the trafficked persons.

While the course primarily focuses on commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking for forced prostitution, trafficking for other purposes will also be fully addressed. Such practices include forced labour, the exploitation of immigrant females for domestic services, removal and sale of human organs, the sale of children for irregular inter-country adoption, and the sale of wives legalized by national / transnational marriages.

The course will lay special emphasis on all aspects of Prevention of TIP, Protection of trafficking victims and Prosecution of offenders. Critical challenges and appropriate responses to issues ranging from Rescue of the trafficked victims to comprehensive Integration into their families / society would also be examined.

The course will also look closely at diverse contemporary debates surrounding complexity of human trafficking, especially sex – work and trafficking in women; legalizing prostitution as a means of protecting women against trafficking; migration within and across national borders and trafficking in women; the relationship between supply and demand in diverse forms of trafficking and the impact of economic boycotts and sanctions in addressing trafficking in the supply chain.

The course will finally examine the roles of government, law enforcement, the international community, civil society and individual actors in addressing the problem and will conclude with strategies and ‘good practices’ that have proven effective in different parts of the world. Strong emphasis will be placed throughout the course not only on theory and legal frameworks, but also on case studies resourced globally.

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction to Trafficking in Persons: Clarifying Concepts, Dimensions and Different Forms of Human Trafficking

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – meaning of TIP; meaning of different terminologies (e.g. ‘victim’ vis-à-vis ‘survivor’); conceptual difference between TIP and Smuggling of Migrants; clarifying difference between TIP and prostitution; myths and realities surrounding prostitution; different types of TIP; magnitude and incidence; root causes of human trafficking; push and pull factors; supply and demand theories; organized crime networks and its impact on TIP; etc.

Week 2: International and Regional Anti – Trafficking Legal Frameworks

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – all International (UN + ILO) Protocols / Treaties / Conventions pertaining to Human Trafficking and Trafficking in Children; UN Model Law on TIP; Regional Frameworks from Europe, South Asia, South East Asia, Africa, etc.

Week 3: The 3 P’s Approach to Combat Trafficking in Persons: Prevention, Protection and Prosecution

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – UN Trafficking Protocol and the 3 P’s approach to deal with TIP; details of the 3 P’s; rights of victims of trafficking; successful case studies on all the 3 P’s as ‘good practices’.

Week 4: ‘Rescue – Rehabilitation – Repatriation – Integration’ of Trafficked Victims: Critical Challenges and Responses

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – in depth discussion of all strategies from rescue of victim to integration into family / society (RRRI – acronym used by UNICEF); challenges at each of the 4 stages for law enforcement, government and other stakeholders and the appropriate responses; successful case studies globally as ‘good practices’.

Week 5: Trafficking in Persons: Debates and Critiques

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as sex – work and trafficking in women; legalizing prostitution as a means of protecting women against trafficking; migration within and across national borders and trafficking in women; the relationship between supply and demand in diverse forms of trafficking and the impact of economic boycotts and sanctions in addressing trafficking in the supply chain).

Week 6: Multi Disciplinary Response to Trafficking in Persons: Role of Government, Law Enforcement, Non – Governmental Organizations, International Community and Others

This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – role / duties/ responsibilities of all relevant stakeholders in a multi – disciplinary and multi – stakeholder approach to combat TIP; why fragmented approaches do not succeed and why is an integrated response to combat human trafficking required.

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for criminal justice practitioners, staff members of civil society organizations and (inter)governmental organizations involved in combating trafficking in persons, staff members of (international) development agencies, academics and others interested in the human rights of trafficked victims. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Geeta Sekhon (India) is presently a consultant for the United Nations, working predominantly in training and policy design/implementation. She is a legal professional specializing in Rights of Children. Her thesis on – ‘Child Sexual Abuse: A Comparative Study of the Law and Legal Procedures in India and Western Countries’ earned her a Doctorate in Law from the University of Delhi, India. She also has a Post Graduate Degree in Law (LL. M) in Constitutional Law and Human Rights. She commenced her professional career in 1992 in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of the Indian Navy and subsequently joined academics and taught graduate and post-graduate students of law. She was a visiting faculty in several countries in South Asia. Since 2007 she has been associated with the UN and has performed multifarious tasks as a Project Coordinator and as a Consultant with extensive professional experience in the South Asia and South East Asia region on issues related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons. She has authored multiple documents on the two subjects.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

14mayAll DayBusiness, Human Rights, and Development (14 May – 24 June, 2025)

Event Details

Note: This course is also offered as part of the Professional Development Diploma on Sustainable Development and Human Rights.

Course Description

This certificate course offered by the Human Rights Center of the University for Peace will provide participants with a comprehensive outlook on the interface between business, development, and human rights. Business corporations have always been, some may argue even before the advent of the nation-state system, important drivers of economic growth. At the same time, businesses have also often been accused of engaging in activities which may lead to violations of human rights of different stakeholders. This has enabled strong critiques of their role in the overall development process. This e-learning course will critically examine this business-development-human rights nexus with a particular focus on case studies from around the world. Several questions such as the human rights obligations of businesses, the manner in which human rights are affected by businesses including during armed conflicts, the specific linkages with the right to environment and labour rights and the ever elusive solution for accountability will be examined. We will also look at the idea of corporate social responsibility within the Business and Human Rights debate. Attention will also be devoted to an analysis of the successes and challenges of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were endorsed by the Human Rights Council of UN in 2011. Participants will also learn the tools for conducting human rights and stakeholder identification and designing due diligence policies.

The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor.

Course Outline

Week 1: Human rights obligations of businesses as non-state actors
Week 2: Business, human rights, and armed conflicts
Week 3: Business and social issues: the environment and labour standards
Week 4: The sustainable development nexus: business, corporate social responsibility and human rights
Week 5: The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ongoing processes
Week 6: Practical tools for ensuring corporate responsibility to respect human rights

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of (inter) governmental and civil society organisations involved in investment, trade and business related social issues, corporate social responsibility practitioners, practitioners in the field of development, business leaders, trade unionists, academics and others interested in the human rights performance of companies. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Mihir Kanade (India) is Director of the Human Rights Centre of the University for Peace (established by the UN General Assembly). He is the Academic Director of UPEACE and the Head of its Department of International Law. He is also an adjunct faculty at Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (Spain), Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), Long Island University (LIU Global Centre in Costa Rica), and Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia). Dr. Kanade serves as the academic co-coordinator of the LLM programme in Transnational Crime and Justice offered at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, Turin, Italy. He also serves on the International Advisory Board of the International Bar Association on the topic of Business and Human Rights. Dr. Kanade currently serves as an independent expert of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. Dr. Kanade co-leads an e-learning project in partnership with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNU-IIGH for training UN staff and diplomats of permanent missions of States on operationalizing the Right to Development in Implementation of the SDGs. He also chairs the drafting group of international experts appointed by the OHCHR for preparing a legally binding instrument on the right to development. His principal area of academic research and study is the interface between globalization, governance, public international law and human rights, covering several themes including trade, business and investment, sustainable development, forced displacement of people, indigenous peoples’ rights, public health, amongst others. He conducts several trainings for staff of intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as professionals, in the field of international law and human rights. Prior to academia, Dr. Kanade practiced for several years as a lawyer at the Bombay High Court (Nagpur and Bombay benches) and at the Supreme Court of India. He holds a LL.B from Nagpur University (India) and a Master degree and Doctorate from UPEACE.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

25junAll DayProtection of Refugees (25 June – 05 August, 2025)

Event Details

This course can be taken as stand-alone, or as part of the Diploma in Human Rights and Forced Displacement.

Course Description

This certificate course engages in an in-depth study and analysis of the contemporary international and regional systems for protection of refugees. Issues concerning international protection of refugees have undergone a sea change from the 1950s when the international instruments for protection of this vulnerable group of persons was first adopted. The contemporary world order poses serious challenges to their protection, beginning with identifying refugees within mixed migratory flows, inadequate national policies by states to protect them, their incompatibilities with international law, the challenges to durable solutions, the role of international organisations and bodies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), issues of xenophobia and security in host countries amongst various other issues.

This e-learning course is designed to provide a comprehensive picture to participants on what the international system for the protection of refugees is from the international and regional perspective, what are their needs and available legal protections, which are the relevant actors involved in their protection and what are the challenges facing today’s refugees and host countries. The course also analyses the regional systems protection with the help of selected case studies. It further explores the emergence of the new Global Compact for Refugees, its challenges and prospects. The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor as well as officials of UNHCR.

Course Outline

Week 1: Contemporary international framework for refugee protection
Week 2: Refugee Status Determination and the role of UNHCR
Week 3: Durable Solutions
Week 4: Protection of refugees, gender and rights of the child
Week 5: International and Regional legal mechanisms for protection
Week 6: Contemporary challenges to protection of refugees

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of NGOs and government agencies advocating for and working on the protection of refugees, staff of inter-governmental agencies and others interested in these issues. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Mihir Kanade (India) is the Director of the UPEACE Human Rights Centre and is also the Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE. His principal area of academic research and study is Human Rights and Globalization, covering several themes within that interface including forced migration, sustainable development, indigenous peoples’ rights, public health, trade and investment, amongst others. He has extensive experience in training staff of inter-governmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as professionals, in the field of human rights. He acts as an advisor to several human rights organizations and corporations on issues related to human rights and international law. He is also an adjunct faculty at Universidad Alfonso XI El Sabio (Spain), Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), and Long Island University (United States). He has a LL.B from Nagpur University (India) and a Masters degree and PhD from UPEACE. Prior to his pursuit in academia, Mihir practiced for several years as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court and in the Supreme Court of India, focusing on issues of fundamental human rights violations. He has taught numerous professional certificate online courses on the protection of refugees and stateless persons over the last eight years.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

09julAll DayChild Rights and Development (09 Jul–19 Aug, 2025)

Event Details

Note: This course is also offered as part of the Professional Development Diploma on Sustainable Development and Human Rights.

Course Description

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) envisages a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity; a world which invests in its children and in which every child grows up free from violence and exploitation; a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed. A just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which, the needs of the most vulnerable are met.

The first eighteen years of a child’s life encompass a wide range of capacities and vulnerabilities. ‘Children’ in any society, constitute the most vulnerable group who need a nurturing environment and protection for the full realization of their rights and capabilities. Children are critical agents of change and they are a responsibility of the family, society as much as that of the state. Comprehending the need for a consistent and harmonized approach, international agencies and national governments have developed and implemented a variety of child development and child protection measures.

This e-learning course focuses on child rights and child protection issues, which will look closely at the entire gamut of international legal framework on the rights of children and protection of children with a particular focus on child rights violations and remedies globally. The course will explore legal, humanitarian, development and other strategies for understanding and advancing the human rights of children. The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor.

Course outline

Week 1: Human Rights of Children: Introduction, Definitions and Conceptual Frameworks
Week 2: International and Regional Legal Framework on Child Rights
Week 3: Vulnerabilities of Children and Violation of Child Rights
Week 4: Gender Based Exploitation and Discrimination, and Protecting Children in Disaster and Emergency Situations
Week 5: Children and the Justice System
Week 6: Enforcement and Monitoring of Children’s Rights

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of civil society organisations and (inter)governmental organisations involved in the fields of child rights promotion, protection of children from sexual exploitation and trafficking, criminal justice, gender equality, development work, human rights, education, health etc. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Geeta Sekhon (India) is presently a consultant for the United Nations, focusing predominantly on training and policy design/implementation. She is also a visiting faculty at the UPEACE Human Rights Centre since 2013, where she instructs courses on ‘Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation’, ‘Trafficking in Persons’ and ‘Child Rights and Development’. She is a legal professional specializing in Rights of Children. Her thesis on – ‘Child Sexual Abuse: A Comparative Study of the Law and Legal Procedures in India and Western Countries’ earned her a Doctorate in Law from the University of Delhi, India. She also has a Post Graduate Degree in Law (LL. M) in Constitutional Law and Human Rights. She commenced her professional career in 1992 in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of the Indian Navy and subsequently joined academics and taught graduate and post-graduate students of law. She was a visiting faculty in several countries in South Asia. Since 2007 she has been associated with the UN and has performed multifarious tasks as a Project Coordinator and as a Consultant with extensive professional experience in the South Asia and South East Asia region on issues related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons. She has authored multiple documents on the two subjects.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

27augAll DayProtection of Stateless Persons (27 Aug–07 Oct, 2025)

Event Details

This course can be taken as stand-alone, or as part of the Diploma in Human Rights and Forced Displacement.

Course Description

This certificate course introduces learners to the international system for protection of Stateless Persons, and the reduction and prevention of statelessness. Addressing Statelessness is an imperative in today’s world, given that there are more than 10 million persons who are Stateless. Yet, the global efforts to tackle the problem has not been enough due to various factors, which the course grapples with. The course begins with the conundrums of defining ‘stateless persons’ and debates surrounding the distinction between de jure and de facto stateless persons. Participants will then analyze the international legal framework for protection of Stateless persons as enshrined in the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, before moving on to the procedures for Statelessness Status Determination, the role of UNHCR, and the challenges thereto. The next segment of the course focuses on the limitations of a protection regime and the need for amplifying efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent Statelessness, as laid out in the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The course specifically looks at issues related to acquisition of nationality by children, and then focuses on the contemporary challenges

This e-learning course is designed to provide a comprehensive picture to participants on what the international system for the protection of stateless persons is, why does statelessness occur, what are the needs of stateless persons, what are the available legal protections, which are the relevant actors involved in their protection and what are the challenges facing today’s stateless persons. The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor as well as officials of UNHCR.

Course Outline

Week 1: Defining Statelessness: the de jure and the de facto
Week 2: International legal framework for protection of stateless persons
Week 3: Statelessness Status Determination and the Role of UNHCR
Week 4: International legal framework for reduction of Statelessness
Week 5: Prevention of Statelessness and the Rights of the Child
Week 6: Contemporary challenges in the context of Statelessness

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of NGOs and government agencies advocating for and working on statelessness, staff of inter-governmental agencies and others interested in these issues. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Mihir Kanade (India) is the Director of the UPEACE Human Rights Centre and is also the Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE. His principal area of academic research and study is Human Rights and Globalization, covering several themes within that interface including forced migration, sustainable development, indigenous peoples’ rights, public health, trade and investment, amongst others. He has extensive experience in training staff of inter-governmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as professionals, in the field of human rights. He acts as an advisor to several human rights organizations and corporations on issues related to human rights and international law. He is also an adjunct faculty at Universidad Alfonso XI El Sabio (Spain), Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), and Long Island University (United States). He has a LL.B from Nagpur University (India) and a Masters degree and PhD from UPEACE. Prior to his pursuit in academia, Mihir practiced for several years as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court and in the Supreme Court of India, focusing on issues of fundamental human rights violations. He has taught numerous professional certificate online course on the protection of refugees and stateless persons over the last eight years.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

03sepAll DayEnvironment, Development, and Human Rights (03 Sep–14 Oct, 2025)

Event Details

Note: This course is also offered as part of the Professional Development Diploma on Sustainable Development and Human Rights.

Course Description

The certificate course offered by the Human Rights Center of the University for Peace explores the connections between the environment, development, and human rights. It examines how these connections can help in protecting both the environment and human rights. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the educational, legal, and social aspects of this relationship. It addresses the structural inequalities inherent in international environmental law, the issue of climate change and its legal framework derived from the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, various human rights-based environmental approaches, and the precarious position of small island development states through the lens of dispute settlement and loss and damage.

The course is based on dynamic pedagogy, which includes reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor.

Course outline

Week 1: Introduction to Environment, Development, and Human Rights Linkages
Week 2: Legal Approaches: Concepts, Mechanisms and Implementation
Week 3: Ozone & Climate change regime
Week 4: The quest of small island states: dispute settlement mechanisms
Week 5: International environmental law and human rights – UN system
Week 6: International environmental law and human rights – regional human rights mechanisms

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of civil society organizations and (inter)governmental organizations involved in environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, policy-making on environmental issues, development work, human rights, humanitarian work, health, etc. Candidates should have a good written command of English and be highly competent and comfortable with computers and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Dr.Marjolein Schaap (Netherlands) is a professor in the Department of International Law at the University for Peace where she teaches International Environmental Law and International Human Rights Law, among other courses. She obtained her LL.B. (2008), LL.M (2009), and Ph.D. in international public law (2020) from the Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She held a lecturer position at the Department of international law at the Erasmus School of Law (2009-2013) and a Ph.D. position from 2014-2018. She assisted the EU Policy & Outreach Partnership in the USA (based in Washington D.C, USA) in the organization of events and outreach thereof in the South Florida region (2018-2019). Further, Marjolein was an adjunct lecturer at the University of Curacao from 2019-2021, where she taught Regional Human Rights Law.

Marjolein’s principal areas of research and study are the law of international institutions, human rights law, and global governance. Her research addresses accountability and transparency issues of public authorities, whether they operate at the national or international level. Marjolein was a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg, Germany) in 2013 and 2014. In addition, Marjolein served as a reviewer for the Oxford Journal of Transitional Justice (2010-2014), as a member of the editorial board of the School of Human Rights Research newsletter (2012-2016), as a reviewer for the International Journal of Rule of Law, Transitional Justice and Human Rights (2018), and as a rapporteur for the Comparative Covid-19 Project managed by the Young Scholar Initiative of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (2020-2021). She is a rapporteur for Oxford Database for International Organizations (OXIO).

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

22octAll DayProtection of Internally Displaced Persons (22 Oct–02 Dec, 2025)

Event Details

This course can be taken as stand-alone, or as part of the Diploma in Human Rights and Forced Displacement.

Course Description

This certificate course introduces learners to the various dimensions of human rights protection as it applies to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The rise of internal conflicts in the last couple of decades, accompanied with natural disasters in many poorest parts of the world, has led to emergence of more than 27 million IDPs today. It is obvious that their particularly vulnerable situation creates deep inroads into their human rights. This course addresses the international legal principles and guidelines for protection of IDPs, and the operational challenges to their protection and durable solutions. The course is designed to provide a contemporary flavour to the topic using recent and emerging crises situations around the world as case examples. The course begins with an overview of the contexts in which IDPs emerge in today’s world, before addressing the international and regional legal frameworks for the protection of their human rights. The institutional dimension of operational responses is then analyzed by understanding and deconstructing the Cluster Approach, as well as the role of UNHCR in the protection of IDPs. The role of civil society as well as gender dimensions of protection of IDPs is then analyzed. Finally, the course looks at the possible durable solutions and contemporary challenges thereto in the context of IDPs.

This e-learning course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor as well as officials of UNHCR.

Course Outline

Week 1. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in today’s world
Week 2. IDPs and Human Rights: The international and regional legal frameworks
Week 3. The Cluster Approach, and the role of UNHCR and civil society
Week 4. Gender dimensions of Protection of IDPs
Week 5. Durable Solutions
Week 6. Contemporary challenges to protection of IDPs

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of NGOs and government agencies advocating for and working on the protection of IDPs, staff of inter-governmental agencies and others interested in these issues. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructors

Dr. Jan Arno Hessbruegge (Germany) works for the New York Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Over the last 17 years, he has worked as a legal adviser in the High Commissioner’s Executive Office, in OHCHR’s Rule of Law Section and for the U.N. Commissions of Inquiry on Human Rights in Syria and North Korea. He also served in peacekeeping missions in Sudan and Haiti, and worked with the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons. He holds a law degree from the University of Muenster in Germany, a Master of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, the Diploma Law of the Hague Academy of International Law and a doctorate in international law from European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. He teaches this course in a personal capacity and the views presented are not necessarily those of the U.N.

Dr. Mihir Kanade (India) is the Director of the UPEACE Human Rights Centre and is also the Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE. His principal area of academic research and study is Human Rights and Globalization, covering several themes within that interface including trade and investment, sustainable development, forced migration, indigenous peoples’ rights, public health, amongst others. He has extensive experience in training staff of inter-governmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as professionals, in the field of human rights. He acts as an advisor to several human rights organizations and corporations on issues related to human rights and international law. He is also an adjunct faculty at Universidad Alfonso XI El Sabio (Spain), Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), and Long Island University (United States). He has a LL.B from Nagpur University (India) and a Masters degree and PhD from UPEACE. Prior to his pursuit in academia, Mihir practiced for six years as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court and in the Supreme Court of India, focusing on issues of fundamental human rights violations. He has also taught several professional certificate online course on the protection of refugees and stateless persons.

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

29octAll DayGender, Development, and Human Rights (29 Oct–09 Dec, 2025)

Event Details

Note: This course is also offered as part of the Professional Development Diploma on Sustainable Development and Human Rights.

Course Description

This six week specialized online course introduces participants to the gender dimensions of the interface between development and human rights. Social constructions shape our identity, and thus, have critical impact on our daily lives. Diverse gender identities and concepts are taught in formal and informal educational institutions and determine our past, present and future, and may lead to inequality. Gender inequality and inequity then, may lead to human (and women’s) rights violations. This course will give an introduction to the solutions suggested by Gender Mainstreaming to gender inequality in human rights and development work based on the analysis of social constructions and through gender sensitive educational tools. By means of e-conversations and dialogue, the training will combine academic theory with participants’ lived and work experiences. The course will provide participants with the skills to conduct gender analysis in order to ensure gender mainstreaming in human rights and development work. It will also explore mechanisms for human rights sensitive development intervention with a strong focus on gender equality. Finally, the course will explore the intersections between human rights and gender through an analysis of contemporary issues such as gender based violence, trafficking, sex work, contemporary slavery etc, which impede the quest for sustainable development.

The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, video clips, case studies, and interactive webinars with the instructor.

Course outline

Week 1: Gender Analysis
Week 2: Gender Mainstreaming in Human Rights, Peace, and Development Work
Week 3: Education for Gendered Human Rights and Development
Week 4: Human Rights Sensitive Development Intervention
Week 5: Social Rights, Political Rights, and Gender
Week 6: Human Rights, Development, and Questions of Contemporary Slavery, Trafficking, and Sex Work

Who Should Apply

The course is intended for staff members of civil society organisations and (inter)governmental organisations involved in the fields of gender equality, women’s rights, LGBTQI rights, development work, human rights, education, health etc. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

About the Instructor

Gal Harmat (Israel) is an Assistant Professor in the Gender and Peace Building Masters Programme at UPEACE. Dr. Gal Harmat holds a PhD in Gender Analysis of Peace Education and Dialogue encounters from Nitra University (Slovakia) and a M.A. in Gender and Peacebuilding from the UN-Mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. She was a professor in conflict transformation, peace education and gender and Co-Director of the Social Justice and Peace Education Teachers Training Program, Kibbutzim Teachers College in Tel Aviv, Israel. He has also been teaching in the World Peace Academy (University of Basel), the European Peace University (Austria), and the Arts and Social Change College in Israel. As a Gender and Peacebuilding Specialist, she has extensive experience in training, conflict analysis, dialogue facilitation, capacity building, peace education, research, gender empowerment and gender mainstreaming since 1998 in various countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and West and South East Asia. Her consultancies include intergovernmental organizations (e.g. OSCE, UN Women, UNDP, and the Council of Europe), and various international and regional NGOs (e.g. Non Violent Peace Force, Friends of the Earth Middle East; Peres Centre for Peace).

Course Fee

For Certificate: Fee for taking this course is USD 600. UPEACE students and almuni enrolling for the Certificate course are entitled to 30% discount on the fee.

For Auditing: It is also possible to audit the course, in which case, participants will not receive a certificate. Auditors, however, will have access to all course material, be able to participate in the synchronous webinar sessions, and be able to monitor the online discussions of participants. The fee for auditing the course is USD 200.

For Certificate and 2 Academic Credits: Participants are also able to take the course for two academic credits offered by UPEACE. The cost of taking the course for 2 academic credits is USD 1100.

Application Procedure

To apply, please fill up the enrolment form. Applicants will be contacted within three working days of the application. The diploma is limited to 25 participants.

Payment

Payments may be made either by credit card or by wire transfer. Payment by wire transfer usually takes three to four business days to be deposited in our account. Payment by credit card is instant.

If you wish to make the payment by credit card, please go to https://payments.upeace.org/hrc/

Payments by wire transfer must be made to the following bank account:

Universidad para la Paz
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Bank account number:100-02-099-600195-4
Swift Code: BNCRCRSJ and IBAN: CR57015109910026001958
Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4
San José, Costa Rica

Time

All Day (Wednesday)

Calendar GoogleCal

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