Overview and background

Description:

To keep offering high-quality courses, the latest United Nations standards served as the basis for developing this new course. It is the result of a tripartite collaboration between the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Bamako Peacekeeping School (EMP), focused on implementing human rights in peace support operations.

Course details

• Duration: 5 days.
• Methodology / curriculum: the curriculum takes the perspective of an integrated mission in an African Union context, addressing both the multidimensional nature of the mission (civilian, police, military) and the coordination and cooperation between its components.
• Using a variety of learning methods (presentations, case studies, discussions, group work, audiovisual materials), the course methodology is interactive and participatory.
• Participants: 25 civilian, military and police participants from the African Union, working in peace support operations.
• Participant profile: the course is intended for participants with a good knowledge of human rights issues. The emphasis is therefore not on theoretical and conceptual aspects but on the practice and implementation of human rights in post-conflict contexts.

Selection criteria for civilian applicants

• Types of home institution
  • Ministries (Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior, Defence)
  • Transitional institutions (Independent Electoral Commission, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, National Dialogue Platform)
  • National Human Rights Commissions
  • NGOs (human rights, transitional justice, etc.)
  • Peace support operation missions

• Areas of expertise and experience of African applicants (non-exhaustive list): legal professions (international law, constitutional law, electoral matters, etc.), human rights, humanitarian law, social mediation.
• Gender parity: applications from women are encouraged.
• Languages: the course is taught in French. One session in English and one bilingual session (French–English) will also be held.

Topics covered

• General introduction to human rights
• International humanitarian law
• The work of human rights experts
• Protection of vulnerable groups
• Protection of people on the move
• Human rights monitoring
• Transitional justice

Special note:

Each trainee has 20 minutes to give a short presentation of their country and armed forces (for military personnel) or of the organisation they belong to (for civilians). It is advisable to prepare this presentation before arriving in Bamako.
Civilian personnel interested in the course who meet the selection criteria should send their CV together with the registration form to the following address candidaturesciviles@empbamako.org – stating the name of the course in the subject line. Of the 25 participants, 13 are civilians. Each trainee receives all course documents and key readings in advance, to make the most of the course week. It is advisable to prepare and read the documentation before the course.

Eligibility requirements

• be medically fit to attend the entire course, including field exercises,
• be an officer from the rank of captain to lieutenant colonel, or civilian personnel of equivalent level,
• have a good command of French or English,
• be likely to hold a human rights post in a peace support operation in Africa.

How to register

Applications are made online, using this activity's form, between the opening date and the deadline (11:59 pm, Bamako time). An acknowledgement of receipt is sent by email.

Required documents

• the online application form, fully completed;
• a curriculum vitae (PDF or Word);
• the number of the Moodle certificate “Introduction to the Core Knowledge of Peace Operations”, when the form asks for it.