23-27 November 2020
Application start 1 April 2020
Application end 15 November 2020
Application end / With visa 21 September 2020
Fee: 1530 Swiss Francs
Water Alternatives
Can we promote environmental protection through existing human rights (HR) mechanisms? What protection does international law afford to ‘climate refugees’? What are the synergies and tensions between the legal protection of HR and the environment?
From the contamination of water bodies to the effects of climate change, the impact of environmental degradation on human life is one of the most pressing issues in contemporary international law.
This training course provides participants with a deep understanding of the international legal framework for the protection of HR and the environment as well as in-depth knowledge of how to promote environmental protection through existing HR mechanisms.
This 2020 edition will dedicate special attention to water pollution and scarcity. Course attendants will participate in exercises to discuss the impacts of water pollution on human health, the responsibilities of states and businesses, vulnerable actors and environmental justice, and mechanisms at national and international levels to address actual and potential human rights violations.
The course can be followed in Geneva or online (notably for participants who cannot come to Geneva due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The training course covers the following issues:
At the end of this course, participants will be:
Lecturers include Geneva Academy experts, renowned academic scholars, as well as senior professionals from international organizations and NGOs.
The course is interactive and participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and visions on the subject. The training sessions include lectures and expert panels, as well as practical examples and case studies. It also includes a week-long exercise on plastic pollution, in which different human rights challenges will be addressed. Sessions are designed to enhance knowledge exchange with peers and facilitators.
This training course is designed for staff of NGOs, business companies and research centres, national environmental and HR institutions, UN bodies and other international organizations, as well as representatives of governments and members of academia.
Participants who successfully complete the training course receive a certificate of participation from the Geneva Academy.
The training fee for this five-day programme is 1,530 Swiss Francs (30 percent discount for PhD and master students and 10 percent discount for those following the training course online). It includes tuition costs, course materials, lunch and refreshments during coffee breaks.
It is payable as soon as your place has been confirmed. As places on the training course are limited, participation can only be secured through the payment of the fee.
All participants are responsible for their own travel costs to Geneva, including Swiss visa fees and evening meals (approximately 30 Swiss Francs per meal).
Participants can request on-campus accommodation via the online application form. Due to the limited places available, accommodation is not guaranteed. Participants seeking on-campus accommodation are encouraged to request it as soon as possible.
Application Applications must be submitted via the online application form.
If you have any questions, please email hrsandenvironment[at]geneva-academy.ch
Dr Adriana Bessa, a Senior Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy, tells us about the upcoming edition of our training course on human rights and the environment which will notably discuss the impacts of water pollution on human health, the responsibilities of states and businesses, vulnerable actors and environmental justice, and mechanisms at national and international levels to address actual and potential human rights violations.
Yves Lador is the Permanent Representative of EarthJustice in Geneva and a lecturer in this training course. He tells us about the relationship between the protection of human rights and the environment and the focus of the course.
Joshua Cooper is the Executive Director of the Hawaii Institute for Human Rights and a lecturer in this training course. He tells us about the course and its features, including visits to the UN Human Rights Council and the Aarhus Compliance Committee, as well as his lecture on human rights defenders and environmental defenders.
Pooja Navikumar is a Communication and Marketing Specialist. She attended the 2019 edition of our training course on the protection of human rights and the environment and tells us about the course, its highlights and why she would recommend it.
Seun Bakare is a Programme Manager at Amnesty International in Nigeria. He attended the 2019 edition of our training course on the protection of human rights and the environment and tells us about the course and why he would recommend it.
Tram 15, Direction Nations - tram stop Butini
Bus 1 or 25, Direction Jardin Botanique - bus stop Sécheron
Villa Moynier is accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability or any additional needs and require assistance in order to participate fully, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kadir van Lohuizen / NOOR
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ILC
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Olivier Chamard/Geneva Academy
ICRC
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