نظرة عامة على البرنامج

Advanced Human Rights Course: Protection of Forcibly Displaced Persons in Africa

About the Course

This course presents a human-rights perspective on the protection of forcibly displaced persons in Africa, with a view of enhancing the knowledge of policy makers, lawyers, scholars, and students on the protection of the rights of forcibly displaced persons. It covers fundamental legal concepts and principles related to international law on forced displacement, critical challenges in the interpretation and application of key treaty provisions, and rights-based approaches to addressing challenges and ensuring durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa.

Objectives

The main objective of the course is to enable participants to have a thorough understanding of the meaning, causes, and scale of the various forms of forced displacement in Africa, pertinent normative standards at the global and regional level, and the rights of forcibly displaced persons. Participants will be able to critically reflect on the legal and institutional responses to forced displacement, and the roles of humanitarian and development actors in the protection of forcibly displaced persons.

Course Content

The course covers issues such as:

• The legal and institutional framework protecting the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons, and stateless persons
• Obligations of states and non-state actors
• The roles of, and standards related to humanitarian and development agencies and non-governmental organisations
• Legal developments: new trends in the interpretation and application of laws
• Strategic advocacy for the rights of forcibly displaced persons
• Rights-based approach to durable solutions

Fees

The course will be offered in a hybrid format. Participation in the course online is $150 (USD), and in-person attendance is $250 (USD). The fee includes venue costs, course materials, lunch, and tea for the duration of the course.

Payment

Payment should be made to the University of Pretoria, with the account details as follows:

• Account name: University of Pretoria
• Bank: ABSA Bank
• Account number: (not specified)
• Branch code: (not specified)
• Swift code: ABSAZAJJ As reference, please supply the following information: (A0D648) and Lastname.

Scholarships

There are a limited number of scholarships for online participants, which are awarded on a competitive basis to deserving applicants.

Practical Information

In-person participants are responsible for their travel costs, accommodation, and local transfers. The Centre for Human Rights will provide guidance and assistance to prospective participants in making these arrangements.

Application Procedure

Documents to be submitted include:

• Curriculum Vitae (short CV in PDF or Word document, maximum 3 pages, maximum 10 MB in file size)
• One Letter of Recommendation (PDF or Word document, maximum of 10 MB in file size)
• Academic Records (students only) (combined in one PDF or Word document, maximum 10 MB in file size)

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 7 September 2026.

Partner Institution

The Migrants' Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, is a partner institution for this course.