Human Rights at International Borders: Exploring New Technologies, their Risks and Opportunities
When
Where
Organized by
In a nutshell
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is inviting applications for a training course for human rights defenders working at international borders in the Northern Mediterranean region.
The course is open to human rights defenders in Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain and Türkiye.
What
The three-day training course aims to enable human rights defenders working in the Northern Mediterranean region to comprehend border technologies' human rights implications and to enhance their capacity to collect and verify information through various means, including new technologies, for effective human rights monitoring at borders.
Topics addressed during the training include: What new technologies are used in border control and migration management? How can the human rights implications of using these technologies at borders be assessed and monitored? How can human rights defenders effectively monitor and report on harmful border practices as pushbacks? What is the psycho-social impact of using new technologies on people on the move and on human rights defenders? How can human rights defenders safely use various methods to collect better and verify information at borders, including using new technologies?
How
The training is based on interactive learning methods and requires all trainees' full-time presence and a high level of active participation. Applicants should consider that if their application is accepted, they cannot carry out their other work-related activities during the training sessions. The course is conducted in English by experienced trainers with proven gender and cultural sensitivity. ODIHR covers training materials, travel costs and accommodation.
Who
Twenty-five participants will be selected in a competitive process according to the following criteria:
- Working in one of the following OSCE participating States: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain or Türkiye. Citizenship of the applicant is not decisive;
- Proven experience and high motivation to carry out human rights-related activities in the migration and refugee context;
- Priority will be given to applicants with proven experience of monitoring pushback practices and other human rights violations at borders;
- Experience with monitoring and/or analysing human rights implications of technologies used in border and migration management (surveillance, biometrics, automated decision-making at borders, in refugee camps and/or in immigration detention) is an advantage;
- Willingness to use various methods, including new technologies, to collect and verify information for human rights monitoring at borders;
- Relevance of the training for applicants’ current and potential future human rights activities in the region and readiness to put the obtained knowledge into practice;
- Ability to actively participate in English;
- Availability to attend the training for its full duration and readiness to set aside other work activities during the three days;
- Priority will be given to members of civil society organizations, grassroots activists and the media (usually one person per organization), who will demonstrate the capacity to share the knowledge obtained during the training with colleagues;
ODIHR recognizes as a human rights defender any person promoting and striving for the realization of human rights regardless of profession, age or other status. Human rights defenders carry out their human rights activities individually or jointly with others as part of an informal group or as a non-governmental organization and act in a voluntary capacity or professionally. The key characteristic that defines human rights defenders is not who they are, but what they do and the principles they stand for.
Please note that in 2025, ODIHR will open another call for a training course specifically dedicated to applicants working for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI).
Application
Applicants should fill in this application form and upload their CV (PDF or DOC) by 23 October 2024. ODIHR will strive to ensure a geographical and gender balance among participants. Candidates will be informed about the outcome of the selection process, by 6th November 2024.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the training content or the selection procedure, please contact lola.girard@odihr.pl and veronica.grazzi@odihr.pl.