WHRI Six-week Institute
This six-week intensive institute is a unique space for learning about the theory and praxis of women's human rights, preparing participants to use the UN system and the CEDAW convention to support local, national and international level activism. Participants will also develop facilitation and planning skills to engage in executing workshops and training for others on women's human rights.
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CEDAW for Change
This one-week module, part of the six-week institute but open for additional enrolment, focusses on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its core principles of non-discrimination and equality. Participants will examine case studies that have come before CEDAW and strategize on how to link their work to that of the CEDAW committee.
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Who are we?
The Women's Human Rights Institutes help participants develop a practical understanding of the UN Human Rights system and learn how to apply a women’s human rights framework to a multiplicity of issues. Participants will develop practical facilitation skills to help them become human rights educators in their own regions and organizations.
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Testimonials
Livia BizikovaI am working on the linkages between climate change, adaptation and vulnerability and gender. I’ve got very valuable inputs regarding human rights and women’s rights… Because the convention on climate change is based under the UN framework, the lectures around UN and Women and possibly entry points were very useful.
Bernadette MaheandiranAt my current position in the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, an NGO in Sri Lanka…my work has been enriched by my knowledge of international human rights instruments and standards gleaned through the course. I am now able to look at the human rights regime in Sri Lanka through a gendered lens gained through the instruction of Alda Facio.
Bridgett SloanThe feminist and human rights theory I learned during the institute served as an incredibly helpful foundation for (projects on gender I went on to do in Mongolia) and the group discussions we had about effective and creative strategies for communicating these ideas and encouraging dialogue greatly influenced my approach to my work.
Participant from HondurasI knew really very little about the UN and international women’s human rights before the institute, and now I understand: UN mechanisms, the CEDAW, the Optional Protocol, UN Special Rapporteurs, UN bodies and a lot more about international law generally. This is all very useful for my work.
Central American participantLearning about capitalism, globalization and neocolonialism with Angela Miles was very important because it helped me to put everything in context and to make links for resisting oppression against women.
Kenyan-Canadian participantI have had blinders lifted from my eyes at this institute. The institute has lit my dying flame and passion. I am now sure that I can go back to East Africa to work as a human rights defender.
Central American participantThe yoga sessions, working with the body and looking at the body as political, were very important for me. Linking the body with human rights and with all the other issues was very powerful and changed my way of thinking.
Participant from Kenya(Developing) an in-depth understanding of CEDAW was very useful for me having worked with grassroots women for many years and not knowing that such mechanisms exist.
