Department of International Refugee Law and Migration Law
Online Courses
International Refugee Law
The courses on International Refugee Law (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Arabic) present the key aspects of the international protection of refugees. The topics covered range from the analysis of International Refugee Law and its complementarity with other bodies of law to the different displacement phases and durable solutions. Additional refugee-related issues, such as the challenges faced by people displaced due to the effects of environmental changes.
Statelessness
The courses on Statelessness (English, French and Arabic) respond to the need of increased knowledge and capacity to prevent, reduce and resolve statelessness and to protect stateless persons worldwide. The curricula of the courses range from the adoption of the Statelessness international conventions and development of national legislation, to the work with stateless persons in the field. Besides the international legal framework related to nationality, the courses’ sessions analyse the causes and impacts of statelessness, the overview of stateless populations around the world, including stateless children, and the interrelation between statelessness and forced displacement. The courses also aims at promoting the use and the implementation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Global Action Plan to End Statelessness as part of the #IBelong Campaign.
Internal Displacement
The courses on Internal Displacement (English, French and Spanish) cover the key components of the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout their displacement cycle. International norms underpinning the protection of IDPs, including the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the Kampala Convention are analysed in the perspective of better understanding the causes and consequences of internal displacement, its current global trends, and the protection risks faced by individuals throughout their displacement cycle. Cross-cutting issues, such as housing, land and property, data collection, and the international community coordination mechanisms are also addressed. The trainings ultimately explore the search for and implementation of durable solutions for IDPs and promote the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. The course is organized with the support of the office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced persons.
Migration
The courses on International Migration Law (English, French and Spanish) present the most relevant aspects of the migration phenomenon from different angles, including the obligations and concerns of States and the rights and responsibilities of migrants. The courses include an analysis of the international legal instruments that relate to migration, as well as the legal framework concerning other categories of persons in need of protection. The complex nature of today’s migratory phenomenon is analysed, including trends, causes, journeys and associated risks, integration in the country of destination, and return and reintegration in the country of origin. Key components of migration management and governance are highlighted, within the framework generated by the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.
Advocacy for Protection
The Courses on Advocacy for Protection (English) present the key elements for supporting the transformation of policies, public perception of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless people and migrants. To make sure that advocacy efforts are effective and sustainable, specific focus is also dedicated to practical sessions on protection analysis, advocacy strategies design and message crafting. Concurrently, the Course on Refugee Law for Journalists and Media (English) highlights strategies and recommendations for inclusive media policies, which respect uprooted persons and impartially expose events to governments and publics at large, and also focuses on the correct terminology to employ when referring to refugees, and the situations they are confronted with. The delivery methodology of the courses is highly participatory.