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Specialisation Programme in economics, social and cultural rights and right to education
SUHR benefits from the official support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Bureau of Education (UNESCO) who offer their logistics and expertise. More than 20 Institutions are working in collaboration on the project. Amongst them are several universities, including the University of Geneva, Boston University and several other universities as well as various NGOs. The program is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the UNESCO, Rights and Democracy (Canada), the "Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas de América Latina", the Lombard Ordier Hentsch & Cie Bank, Amnesty International (Switzerland) and several Swiss counties. Moreover, the institution welcomes to its training sessions, as participants, the First Nations interns sent by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. Why Geneva?The principal objective of the UCHD-SUHR is to create in Geneva a university level for training at university level directly linked with the practice of international negotiations. Location of the head quarters of the UN in Europe and of several intergovernmental and non governmental organisations, Geneva is a privileged centre for communication between human rights militants and diplomats, international civil servants and academics, which gives the city the name of 'world capital of human rights'. The overall objective is to provide a multiplied effect by contributing to the development of structures and specific training programs in Switzerland and abroad, notably within the framework of agreements or partnerships with administrations, universities or NGOs already at work in the field. Why "University College Henry Dunant"?For the past years, the Summer University of Human Rights and Right to Education (SUHR) has not restrained its activities to the Summer period in the Northern hemisphere but is actually running them all year round. Reaffirming the principles on which its action is based since 1995, and in order to answer more effectively to its vocation, the founding council decided to call the SUHR the University College Henry Dunant (CHDUC). The choice of Henry Dunant is highly symbolical: not only this "father" of the Geneva conference of 1863 represents humanitarian law since he is the founding figure of the Red Cross, but he also stands for one of the figurehead of Human Rights. Indeed, Dunant devoted his life to the fight for human beings rights. He denounced slave trade and proposed abolition of slavery, imagined the creation of the Israeli state, defended the rights of minorities and militated in favour of the rights of women and workers. Dunant also was a man of peace: in this respect, he received the first Peace Nobel prize in 1901. He also founded an NGO: the "Union chrétienne des jeunes gens" (YMCA), which is a movement conducted by young people committed to the Christian faith and tolerance. This synthesis of principles of rights, tolerance and peace reflects precisely the 'Geneva spirit': an open-minded spirit, on universality and fraternity. The word 'college', suggests a community. The Summer University is firstly a community of thoughts, but also of action, which gathers almost 600 people from 85 different nationalities. It is a community of thoughts by the teaching, the sharing of knowledge and interdisciplinary relations. The term 'college' also means equality amongst its members be they from the North or the South, diversity being considered as a source of wealth and opportunities. This equality of principles, indispensable to the dialogue between cultures and the sharing of knowledge, is of course one of the characteristics of the Summer University. The word 'university' refers to the idea of secularization from the political realm enabling to question the foundations. University, in this context, still means universality and prospective reflections about the evolution of the international community. Finally, the Summer University is a community of action through its impact on the protection of human rights and above all, through actions in favour of a culture of the human being rights rooted in different philosophies and religions. This culture is the foundation of democratic governance, essential to the putting into place of a sustainable human development.Finally, the Summer University is a community of action through its impact on the protection of human rights and above all, through actions in favour of a culture of the human being rights rooted in different philosophies and religions. This culture is the foundation of democratic governance, essential to the putting into place of a sustainable human development. Several types of coursesA growing demand for educational training in the field of Economics, Social and Cultural Rights currently exists amongst the international community as result of a Rights based approach to policies (in HCDH, Les droits de l'homme et la lutte contre la pauvreté. Cadre conceptuel, 2004). Having twelve years of experience, the Henry Dunant University College (HDUC) offers two programs to respond to this need. The courses were designed to improve the necessary skill for the protection of these rights and in particular of the right to education. This new orientation is the result of the special sessions organised for former students and company audits in 2003 and 2004 as well as the 2005 session, which was entirely developed in the form of workshops and simulations. Aware of the current international situation, the HDUC-SUHR closely examines the progress of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the UN (general comments, reports submitted by the Special Rapporteurs and feedback from work groups). The teaching staff consists of university professors, diplomats and international experts from NGOs. Carried out in close collaboration with the Office of Human Rights High Commissioner and the UNESCO, the course allows participation with bodies promoting the protection of Human rights, notably the Human Rights Council and the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The course takes place principally at the head quarters of the international organisations. The objective of the course is to provide students with the necessary tools to work towards the coming of a culture of Human Rights within a global society aiming at a sustainable human development (see the Declaration on the Right to Development, Preamble, 1986, Millennium Declaration, Preamble, 2001). This culture of Human Rights will be based on a real dialogue between cultures and civilisations, since only cultural knowledge within the rights stated in the Charter of Human Rights will make them truly universal. Being the corner stone the Charter of Human Rights, the first educational training program emphasizes the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (escr) that constitute an essential part of sustainable human development. Particular attention is given to the cultural rights that are viewed as "rights to be", in the very human meaning. Finally, while asserting that education is the driving element of culture and development, the course gives the right to education an essential place (see UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity, article 5). The course integrates the right to development and offers to reflect upon means to use in order to include an approach to development based on rights. The questions pertaining to gender and discriminations are considered transversally. The first program of the Henry Dunant University College - Summer University of Human Rights and Right to Education is a two weeks program specialising in Economics, Social and Cultural Rights leading to a specialised qualification of University College Henry Dunant. It is divided in three units. The intensive session in August is preceded by a self-directed distance education unit on the internet. It is then followed by an optional research project awarding of a diploma. This program is taught in two languages: French and Spanish. This course is taught in French and Spanish. This is a multidisciplinary training and applies in priority to decision making people, magistrates, lawyers, civil servants, parliamentarians, as well as militants, teaching journalists and post graduate and PhD students wishing to complete their educational training and acquire a practical experience in Human Rights negotiations. The Henry Dunant University College offers several other courses. Each of them directed at a different target audience. The main courses and the courses taught in partnership with the University of Geneva and the University of La Rioja (Spain) also take place at the UN, in July and August. The same types of courses or tailor-made ones such as: the training designed for First Nations representatives (organised in collaboration with the "Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas de América Latina"), are also offered in Geneva. Courses are delivered by academics, independent experts, international civil servants and NGO representatives, staying in Geneva to attend important international meetings. The scientific council composed of academics and renowned experts ensure that the quality and the coherence of the program meet the required standard. During their stay in Geneva, participants attend the yearly session of the Human Rights Council and of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and / or the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This original format allows them to familiarize themselves with the workings of the Protection of Human Rights system in the United Nations.
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