Call for Applications: Summer Course on Statelessness

The Open Society Justice Initiative and the Statelessness Programme at Tilburg University Law School invite applicants for a summer course on statelessness, to be held in Tilburg, The Netherlands, from July 23 to 27, 2012.

Statelessness is a global phenomenon that currently affects as many as 12 million people worldwide. New cases continue to arise every day as states struggle with the challenge of ensuring that everyone enjoys a nationality. For those who find themselves stateless, the lack of a nationality commonly obstructs access to a wide range of other rights, to detrimental effect. Moreover, the harsh impact that statelessness has on the lives of individuals and the fabric of communities may contribute to social tension, forced displacement and even conflict.

Lasting one week, the course aims to consider statelessness and the right to nationality from various angles. Beginning with a reflection on the concept of statelessness, the course will deal with legal and policy issues associated with statelessness. The course will address the status of stateless persons, their human rights and right to international protection, and ways to research and document statelessness. The course will draw significantly on experiences from many places around the world, including in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. In addition, the course will take a closer look at a number of specific questions relating to statelessness, such as UNHCR’s mandate and work, the influence of gender discrimination in creating statelessness and the litigation of the right to a nationality.

The course aims to provide participants with new knowledge, tools and skills to address statelessness and enforce the right to nationality. The curriculum is taught by lecturers from a variety of backgrounds, both professionally and geographically. They are drawn from academia and legal practice as well as from NGOs and governmental bodies, and cover various regions.

Participants from all over the world will engage actively in the different sessions, with several opportunities throughout the week to work in smaller teams and focus specifically on their own area of interest. The participants will benefit from the knowledge and professional experience of both the lecturers and their fellow participants.

Eligibility

A maximum of 30 participants will be admitted to the course. Eligible candidates have experience in working on issues related to citizenship and statelessness, or significant experience in a related field such as minority rights, migration, forced displacement or child protection, and an interest in the issue of statelessness. Such work experience may have been gained in NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, governments or research institutes and universities. The course is taught in English, and applicants should have proficiency in the English language.

A limited number of scholarships are available for applicants who are able to demonstrate how their work would benefit from participation in the course, but who would otherwise be unable to afford to participate.

Further Details

For more information, and to apply, visit the Tilburg University summer course page: http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/summerschool/courses/statelessness/

Application Deadline

Please submit your application before March 15, 2012.

A flyer for the course is available for download below.

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