INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE LAW

34th Online Course on International Refugee Law (English)

8 April – 3 May 2024, Online

Live sessions of the Course will be held from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, Rome time.  Please, click here to check your time zone.

© UNHCR/Tiksa Negeri

The Course presents the key aspects of international protection and refugees’ rights. The topics covered range from the analysis of International Refugee Law and its complementarity with other bodies of law to the international protection principles and the different participative protection approaches. This analysis has at its heart the specific protection needs of refugees and includes different focus areas such as protection at sea, trafficking and smuggling, detention and alternatives, and the nexus between protection and development. The causes that force people to flee, the protection risks encountered through the displacement cycle, and the search and implementation of durable and sustainable solutions are also examined. Additional displacement issues are further analyzed, covering the protection of other categories of displaced persons. The Course is conducted in light of the developments generated by the international responses, including the Global Compact on Refugees. This course will also include sharing of experiences from participants, including Governments as well as people with lived experience of displacement.

Overall objectives

The general objectives of the course are:

  • Promote law, principles and policies related to the international protection of refugees.
  • Develop a common understanding among participants on how legislation and policies can be promoted and implemented at the national level by a variety of stakeholders.
  • Raise awareness on the human rights issues faced by refugees and the need for durable solutions
  • Enhance the skills of participants in developing and applying policies and standards in conformity with International Law.
  • Encourage a positive attitude among participants towards the protection of refugees and other uprooted people.
Target audience

The Course is developed primarily to benefit senior and mid-level government officials involved in the formulation and application of legislation and policies affecting people in need of protection. Members of the civil society and the academia, who could positively influence the safeguard of refugees’ rights and advocate for the protection of uprooted and stateless persons, are also accepted as participants.

It is important for participants to have a very good knowledge of the language of the Course, in order to be able to consult background materials, attend lessons, and participate in group works and discussions (no simultaneous translation is available).

Methodology

The Online Course is structured in four weeks, with the objective of providing an in-depth analysis of the subject of the training, including cross-cutting issues.

Weeks are composed of two to three live and self-paced sessions:

● Live sessions are pre-scheduled and usually last 120 minutes. These are delivered via Zoom for Education;
● Self-paced sessions are completed at participants’ own pace and must be undertaken before the beginning of each following class. These usually consist of pre-recorded videos, short questionnaires or assignments, and/or selected reference materials.

The Course strikes a balance between theory and practice and is delivered through a participatory and creative teaching methodology aimed at facilitating the learning process and implementing the knowledge gained throughout the training. Sessions include lectures, presentations, case studies, group work, audio-visual support, and other activities that respond to the various learning styles of a diversified audience.

Throughout the training, participants and expert facilitators are encouraged to share best practices and experiences regarding the main topics and issues of the Course.

The Sessions will be delivered by experts working in the field of refugee protection, members of academia, or persons with lived experience, especially from RLOs, from around the world.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Registration deadline: 11 March 2024

PROGRAMME

Queries on the course registration and administrative questions should be directed at admission.unit@iihl.org.

Duration:
4 weeks
Language:
English
Registration fee:
€ 750
End of course:
Official certificate

Participation quota amounts to € 750. It must be remitted before the start of the Course by bank transfer. Visa and/or Mastercard are also accepted on the website of the Institute.

A limited number of scholarships is available for the Online Course and cannot therefore be guaranteed purely by application. Scholarships will depend upon funds available to the Institute thanks to the kind contribution of our donors. To apply for a scholarship, you must detail so in the dedicated field in the Registration Form.

The course will be conducted in English and reasonable language proficiency is required. There will not be simultaneous translation.

The official Certificate will be awarded only to those who attend the Course in full, including participation in live and self-paced sessions, and completion of assignments.