International Children’s Rights Law

This programme covers international human rights law, monitoring mechanisms, and regional human rights systems for children. It explores philosophical and normative issues related to implementation in different contexts, including the UN CRC communications procedure for reporting violations and includes a study visit to the Children’s Rights Committee in Geneva. The programme also highlights the importance of regional human rights protection systems in the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and the direct applicability of international norms in national legal systems.

Objectives

  • Acquire specialized knowledge of children's rights in both theoretical and practical dimensions through an international and interdisciplinary approach to the study of children's rights.
  • Understand and critically discuss the role of international instruments, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in implementing and monitoring children's rights.
  • Develop the ability to contribute to the resolution of child rights-related issues and problems.
  • Exercise tools to effectively use human rights standards and mechanisms at both the international and national levels.

Audience

Professional who works with children’s rights issues: lawyer, psychologist, sociologist, judge, law enforcement officer, social worker, teacher, government official, staff from governmental and non-governmental organizations, academic and journalistic.

Overview

The plan of study consists of a one-week-long teaching programme in Geneva and includes reading, writing and practical learning exercises. This programme includes as well, a study visit to the Children's Rights Committee at Palais des Nations for a hands-on experience with this mechanism. It is open to all professionals working with children and does not require prior law knowledge.

While meeting the UN Children's Rights Committee members, you will learn from outstanding scholars about:

  • Philosophical and normative issues concerning international human rights law.
  • International human rights law about children and its monitoring mechanisms.
  • Applicability of international norms at the national level.
  • States’ Parties’ obligations concerning human rights norms.
  • UN CRC communications procedure for reporting child rights violations.
  • Importance of regional human rights protection systems with examples from the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
  • Context of reception of human rights treaties in national legal orders.

Pedagogical methods

Dynamic methods combining lectures, group discussions and workshops allow the interaction between theory and practice.

Speakers

Selected prominent practitioners in international organizations and renowned international experts in children’s rights.

Admission criteria

Persons who wish to participate as an auditor to one or more of the executive training programmes are required to hold a university degree (or judged equivalent) and are expected to have at least two years of professional experience relevant to the programme. They must also have a very good working knowledge of English to participate actively in the programme.

This application consists of 

  • The completed application form.
  • a motivation letter.
  • a short curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) that includes the education record.
  • professional history and work experience in children's rights.

Applications to participate as auditor, have to be submitted in English by email or by post at least one month before the start of the programme. 

The Steering Committee will revise the application and provide the approval. The decisions of the Steering Committee regarding applications for auditors are final.

A limited number of auditors can be accepted to attend the programme. Therefore, early applications will be given priority and acceptance is granted on a first come first served basis.

Certificate

Participants receive a certificate of attendance to the specified programme(s).

Fees

Application Fee: CHF 150

Tuition fee:  CHF 2’300

Director

Prof Karl Hanson, Centre interfacultaire en droits de l’enfant (CIDE), University of Geneva.

Coordinator

Dr Roberta Ruggiero, University of Geneva

 

Registration: For those wishing to attend this programme contact Hortense Hofer 2 months ahead of the start date at the following email address: mcr-secretariat@unige.ch

pdf-icon.png Application Form

Period of Studies:
12 - 16 May 2025 - 5 days

Location:
Geneva, Switzerland

Language: English

Administrative information
Hortense Hofer
mcr-secretariat@unige.ch
+41 (0) 27 205 73 93

Pedagogical information
Simon Nehme
simon.nehme@unige.ch