Venice Academy of Human Rights

The Venice Academy of Human Rights will take place from 4-13 July 2016 on the topic “Backlash against Human Rights?”. The faculty includes a distinguished opening lecture by Judge András Sajó (Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights), a general course by Robert McCorquodale (BIICL) as well as lectures and discussion sessions with Joseph A. Cannataci (UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy), Helen Fenkwick (Durham University), Mark Goodale (University of Lausanne) and Geir Ulfstein (University of Oslo).
The Venice Academy of Human Rights 2016, in co-operation with PluriCourts – Centre of Excellence for the Study of the Legitimate Roles of the Judiciary in the Global Order, discusses the expansion and restriction of human rights regimes, questions of inequality and social change, counter-terrorist laws, same sex unions, privacy and data protection issues as well as the reform of the European Court of Human Rights and UN human rights treaty bodies. The course aims at academics, practitioners, PhD/JSD and master students.
Applications are accepted until 29 May 2016 with an early-bird discount until 24 April 2016.

2016 Schoemaker-Sustainalytics Student Competition Business & Human Rights

Are you passionate about sustainability? Do you have an original idea for a paper that could contribute to the field of business and human rights? If so, describe your topic in 500 words and you may win an opportunity to conduct research into your topic and further your knowledge of corporate social responsibility (CSR) through an internship with Sustainalytics.

Sustainalytics and the NJCM announce the 2nd edition of the Schoemaker-Sustainalytics Student Competition Business and Human Rights, which was launched in 2014 as a tribute to late Daan Schoemaker. Schoemaker was a human rights expert with Sustainalytics from 2009 until 2012. He joined the board of the Dutch section of the International Commission of Jurists (NJCM) in 2009, and became Vice Chair in 2010. This award was established to create opportunities for motivated students interested in pursuing a career in business and human rights.

The first winner of the Competition was Remco Slim from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Remco was awarded with a 4 month internship at Sustainalytics where he studied business and human rights-related court cases. He studied these cases from different jurisdictions to assess how corporations can cope with the increasing uncertainty regarding their legal accountability on business and human rights issues in a fragmented judicial system. On his experience with Sustainalytics, Remco says:

‘Gaining insights from enthusiastic human rights experts who want to make the world a better place: that is what the internship at Sustainalytics in cooperation with the NJCM has brought me. During my internship I gained a lot of experience which enriched my studies and formed me for the future.’

Dutch-speaking candidates can read more on Remco’s internship experience at www.NJCM.nl. (See: ‘Jaarverslag 2014’)

For more information on Sustainalytics visit their website.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Participation is open to all current students of a master’s level university education, of which at least a component was completed in the Netherlands. Furthermore, applicants must be registered as a student at an EU educational institution for the duration of the internship.

2. Participants are expected to be both aware of, and in agreement with, the eligibility requirements in this regulation.

3. Students who fulfil the criteria under (1) may submit a proposal for an essay in the area of Business & Human Rights. The proposal must:
– Be written in English;
– Be no longer than 500 words;
– Outline the main topic of the essay, its relevance for the field of business & human rights, and the proposed research methods.

4. All submissions should be accompanied by proof of registration at an EU educational institution, a curriculum vitae and the name and contact details of an academic reference. Submissions must be sent to in digital format, no later than February 19, 2016. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.

5. Once selected, the essay on the winning proposal, must:
– Be written in English;
– Be between 4,000 and 6,000 words in length;
– Be completed during the internship with Sustainalytics;
– Address the topic of business and human rights
(the topic does not need to be directly applicable for Sustainalytics, but may also have broader societal or scientific relevance).

PROCEDURE

6. NJCM will acknowledge receipt of the essay proposals specified under (3) within fourteen working days of receipt.

7. A pre-selection of proposals will be made, based on whether these satisfy criteria under (1) and (3) above. If more than ten proposals are submitted that satisfy these criteria, NJCM will make a shortlist of ten candidates on the basis of the following criteria:
a. Originality of the research topic;
b. Relevance for the area of business and human rights;
c. Quality and academic level of the proposal;
d. Degree of innovative insight.

8. A committee three to five experts from NJCM’s membership base, including one representative from Sustainalytics, will assess the proposals that were shortlisted under (7), using the criteria specified under (7). The committee will present the top three proposals to Sustainalytics for a last assessment round. The top three candidates will receive notification by March 11, 2016.

9. The three candidates shortlisted under (8) will be invited to present their proposals to a Sustainalytics selection committee in the period of 14-30 March 2016. In addition to the criteria named under (7), a subjective assessment of the candidates’ motivation, skills, and passion for sustainability and human rights will form part of the assessment. References may be contacted at this stage.

10. In the case of participation of a relative of one of the members of the committees of readers from either NJCM or Sustainalytics, this member will be replaced by a reserve member. In the case of a (former) student who is supervised by one of the members of the commission of readers, this member shall likewise be replaced by a reserve-member.

11. In the case of unforeseen situations not covered by this regulation, the chairman of the committee of readers from Sustainalytics, as specified under (9) will pronounce a decision.

12. Sustainalytics will select a winning candidate by April 1, 2016, and will communicate this selection to all applicants.

PRIZE

13. The prize will be an internship placement with Sustainalytics in Amsterdam, for a three to four-month period for four or five working days a week. The internship will commence no later than Monday 4 July 2016, for a duration and on a date to be mutually agreed upon by Sustainalytics/the winning candidate. During the internship, the winning candidate will be involved in Sustainalytics’ activities in the area of ESG (environment, social & governance) research, with a focus on the area of business and human rights. There will so be room to work on the essay as indicated under (4).

14. Interns will receive a stipend in accordance with the regulations of the applicable Sustainalytics office; this consists of EUR 450 per month on a full time basis and full reimbursement of commuting expenses.

15. Depending on the quality and innovativeness of the essay, Sustainalytics and the NJCM will determine whether there are possibilities for publication through their respective networks.

QUESTIONS?

Contact NJCM at NJCM@law.leidenuniv.nl or go to www.NJCM.nl.

Public International Law Summer School of Utrecht University

The Public International Law Summer School of Utrecht University will look at the role of international law in responding to today’s global challenges, such as the Russian activities in Ukraine, the legal aftermath of Srebrenica, the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq, and climate change negotiations. These issues will be used to examine the nature and function of international law, its sources and subjects, and questions of jurisdiction and immunities, state responsibility and the responsibility of international organizations.

See: http://www.utrechtsummerschool.nl/courses/law-economics/introduction-to-public-international-law

Summer School on International, European and Domestic Water Law

Do you want to know more about the regulation of the various uses of freshwater resources? Then Utrecht University’s Summer School on Water Law provides an introduction to selected issues of international, regional (EU) and domestic water law. These issues include the organizational aspects of water management, water safety and flood protection, water quality and combating pollution, protection of drinking water resources and the sustainable use of water.

See: http://www.utrechtsummerschool.nl/courses/law-economics/international-european-and-domestic-water-law-

Master in Democratic Governance – Democracy and Human Rights in the MENA Region

Admissions to the second edition of the Master in Democratic Governance – Democracy and Human Rights in the MENA Region (DE.MA) are still open until the 16th November 2015. DE.MA was created thanks to the support of the European Union and of the Danish Institute for Human Rights. It is based on a partnership between EIUC and the following universities: International University of Rabat (Rabat, Morocco), Birzeit University (Birzeit, Palestine), St Joseph University (Beirut, Lebanon), Ca’ Foscari University (Venice, Italy) and a growing network of partner Universities in the Region.

DE.MA is a multidisciplinary curriculum offering courses in law, political science, sociology and other fields relevant to the study of democratic governance and Human Rights. Open to professionals and graduates, it will combine a theoretical and practical approach and it will deliver a professional Master’s degree (60 ECTS) from Ca’ Foscari University, Venice. The main language will be English, knowledge of French and Arabic is recommended.

The first semester from January to April 2016 is held at the EIUC premises in Venice and the second one from April to July 2016 takes place in one of the partner universities in the Master’s Consortium.

DE.MA aims at:

  • Creating high-profile experts in the fields of democratic governance and the protection of human rights, allowing them to act as promoters of a process leading to the affirmation of the democratic principles;
  • Fostering the creation of an élite group of people committed to the promotion of democratic institutions;
  • Building a network of experts to be active in political institutions, in national and international, governmental and non-governmental organisations in the Region.

Tuition fees amount to 3.750 euro. EIUC offers financial support in the form of a partial contribution towards living expenses and/or a full or partial tuition waiver. This type of financial support is awarded to a limited number of students on the basis of academic achievement, need and geographical distribution.

More information on the DE.MA, the professors and the programme can be found here: http://eiuc.org/dema

Movies that Matter On Tour Vertoning van “We come as friends”, gevolgd door nagesprek met Egbert Wesselink

De Movies that Matter On Tour vertoning van “We come as friends” luidt het begin van het Movies that Matter on tour programma in en na afloop van de film vindt er een nagesprek plaats met Egbert Wesselink.

Over de documentaire: Terwijl het kersverse land zich langzaam maar zeker in een oorlog begeeft, zoekt een stoet buitenlandse investeerders naar mogelijkheden om het grondgebied te exploiteren, onder het mom van het brengen van beschaving. De filmmaker bezoekt onder meer een Chinees oliebedrijf, dat door boringen de waterbron vervuilt. In een ander dorpje hebben Texaanse missionarissen zich ontfermd over de inwoners, die worden overgehaald om toch eens kleren te gaan dragen. De eerlijke verhalen van Soedanezen op microniveau, en ontmoetingen met VN-medewerkers en andere ‘weldoeners’ geven een onthutsend beeld van het moderne kolonialisme en de impact daarvan.

Over de spreker: Egbert Wesselink werkt met grote ondernemingen om de rechten en belangen van kwetsbare bevolkingen te verdedigen. Hij richt zich vooral op het veiligheidsbeleid van bedrijven en regeringen en het aanscherpen van internationale regels, zoals de Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Bedrijven die zeggen maatschappelijk verantwoord te ondernemen, moeten hun beloften nakomen. Werkgebieden zijn (Zuid-) Soedan, DR Congo, en Colombia.

English: As war-ravaged South Sudan claims independence from North Sudan and its brutal President, Omar al-Bashir, a tiny, homemade prop plane wings in from France. It is piloted by eagle-eyed documentarian Hubert Sauper, who is mining for stories in a land trapped in the past but careening toward an apocalyptic future.

ICTY Open Day in The Hague on 20 September

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is hosting its Annual International Open Day on Sunday, 20 September, at the ICTY Main Building in The Hague as part of The Hague International Day. At the Open Day, there will be opportunities to interact with ICTY Judges and other key staff members, view documentaries produced by the ICTY Outreach Programme, learn about the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) and explore exhibitions and material from the ICTY Archives.

Speakers (with Q&A sessions) for the day include:

  • Judge Carmel Agius, ICTY Vice-President
  • Judge Christoph Flügge
  • Judge Alphons Orie
  • Michelle Jarvis, Principal Legal Counsel (Deputy to the Prosecutor and Head of Appeals)
  • Bob Reid, OTP Chief of Operations
  • Martine Durocher, Chambers Legal Officer

 Events will be held throughout the day from 11:00 – 17:00.

For more information or to register, please visit https://www.evite-sendmail.nl/gem_dh/opend15/web/opend15_aanmelden_zndr_uit_en.php .