CEDAW South to South Institute

CEDAW South to South Institute

The first CEDAW South to South Institute was held in partnership with the CEDAW Committee of Trinidad & Tobago (CCoTT) and the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies from July 25 – August 2, 2019.  An online learning program preceded the program, and participants submitted action plans after the in-person training.  A diverse group of women’s human rights defenders from the Global South gathered with a wide array of expert facilitators to explore CEDAW as a tool for advocacy, movement-building, and for social transformation.

This program was generously supported by the Channel Foundation.

 

 

 

 

CEDAW South to South Institute:  July 25 – August 2, 2019

This intensive capacity-building institute focusses on feminist activist approaches to CEDAW, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, alongside complementary international and regional human rights frameworks and mechanisms to support strategic advocacy and leadership capacities amongst women’s human rights defenders.  Innovative approaches to combatting intersectional discrimination against women in a context of backlash and processes to support cross-movement and cross-regional alliances are explored with regional and international women’s human rights defenders and leaders.

The CEDAW South to South Institute 2019 was facilitated by a team of international women’s human rights experts:

Alda Facio, WHRI Co-founder, Costa Rican feminist jurist and activist, Special Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women (UN WGDAW)
Angela Lytle, WHRI ED
Terry Ince, CCoTT

Special Guests:
Professor Rhoda Reddock, CEDAW Committee Member
Meskerem Geset Techane, Chair, UN Working Group on discrimination against women
Kenita Placide, ECADE
Professor Gabrielle Hosein, IGDS

The CEDAW South to South Institute 2019 was convened by the Women’s Human Rights Institute with an alliance of organizations bringing a broad range of theoretical and field expertise to the program, including:


 

Read more about each partner organization here.

The program was held on the beautiful St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago, taking full advantage of the powerful movement history and leadership in the region on intersectional transnational feminist theory and activism.  Emancipation Day celebrations were included in the program.

The program is transnational in focus, and women’s human rights defenders from around the world are encouraged to participate to promote knowledge-sharing and transnational solidarity-building!

 

 

Program Information – CEDAW South to South Institute:

Program fees only cover the cost of participation in the program. Purchasing personal travel medical insurance for non-residents of Trinidad & Tobago will be additional, plus your variable travel & visa expenses, booking your accommodations, and covering your meals and incidental expenses.  See below for information about discounts and scholarship possibilities.

Please allow a minimum budget of  $ 40 USD per day or the duration of stay in Trinidad & Tobago to cover your meals and incidentals. Classes for this program will be held at the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus.  We strongly recommend accommodations on campus.

Application Process

Application Process

To be considered for the program, you must first submit an online application.  Once your application has been reviewed, we will be in touch. If you have reasonable grounds to request a discount, please see the details below. 

Payment Deadlines

Payment Deadlines

Once you have received an acceptance to the program of your choice, you must pay a deposit to guarantee your space in the program, as space is limited.  We recommend submitting payment immediately upon acceptance to avoid disappointment. 

Discounts

Discounts

CEDAW South to South Institute Discounted rate:  Requests for discounts will be considered on a case by case basis, but please bear in mind that fees are charged in order to help us cover expenses and support the sustainability of this program. We do our best to make it accessible.  We are also happy to work out a payment plan schedule that works for you.

Discounts may be available for multiple participants from the same/affiliated organizations—inquire by email if this applies to you.

Scholarships

Scholarships

A limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships were made available to support attendance at the program.

Scholarship allocation prioritizes under-represented groups of women and applicants who are well-positioned to make an impact in their communities and organizations.  Note that scholarships do not include travel or other costs, only the cost of tuition for the program, and are not generally available for persons working in large, well-funded organizations that can access funds to support training and capacity-building.

Accommodations

Accommodations

Please note that the cost of tuition does not include accommodation or travel costs, and accommodations must be paid for directly to UWI by participants.

IGDS has rooms on hold for program participants at a convenient on-campus dormitory, Freedom Hall.  You can find information about the dormitory here.  Shops and restaurants are in walking distance.

Details:  The rooms held for our group in Freedom Hall have single rooms with air-conditioning, and all bedding is provided.  Each room is in a quad, sharing a kitchen and bathroom between four rooms.

Dates of stay:  The program runs from July 25th to August 2nd.  You will want to check in on July 24th, and check out after the program ends on August 2 or 3 depending on your onward travel arrangements.

Cost:  The cost of a 10-night stay at Freedom Hall is around $900 USD.  Payment will be made directly to the dorm by wire transfer by July 1st.

For more details, see Freedom Hall’s brochure here.

Trinidad & Tobago

For information about the climate, history and tourism-related information, see here.

Tap into local history and culture through Emancipation Day celebrations, which commemorate the end of slavery in the British Empire.  August 1st is a national holiday, and we will participate in Emancipation Day observances as part of the program.

Visa Information

Visa Information – Trinidad & Tobago 2019 Program

Please be aware that a visa for Trinidad & Tobago may be required. Participant visa processes can take one – two months, or even longer, and require much supporting documentation. In the past, visa delays have forced some participants to arrive late and have caused others to miss the Institute altogether. PLEASE APPLY FOR YOUR VISA EARLY.

See this list of visa requirements to enter Trinidad & Tobago.

  • Once we accept your application, we will provide you with a visa support letter, but you must find out from your nearest consulate or embassy what documents and procedure are required—it may require you to gather many documents on your end.
  • You must have a valid passport.
  • Two recent passport photos are usually required. Make sure these photos meet the requirements as outlined on the website.
  • You must provide proof that you have enough money for your visit abroad. The amount of money may vary, depending on the circumstances for your visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives. You can get more information from the visa office in your country or region.
  • You will need to include other documents. These documents could be: identification cards, proof of employment, a letter of invitation from your hosts, or a proposed itinerary. Check the website of the visa office responsible for the country or region where you live for more information.
  • Other information related to your ties to your home country, such as marital status, children if any, family ties, property ownership, can be helpful
  • If you have traveled abroad previously, please include information on past visas as demonstrating travel history can be helpful to your application
  • Be aware when you book your flight that a transit visa may be required for transfers or stopovers, for example, if your flights connects via a US airport.  Check carefully to avoid problems.

 

For any questions about this program, please contact us at whriapplications@gmail.com.