OMCT Regional Training in Asia: call for applications

OMCT COMPLAINTSTRAINING

Callfor applications

PLACE: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8 to 12 April 2013

TheWorld Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) cordially invites you to apply to itsupcoming regional complaints training, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, from to 8 to 12 April 2013.

Thepurpose of the workshop is to train jurists and lawyers working for or withhuman rights organisations in the Asia-Pacific region on how to prepareand effectively litigate individual complaints involving violations ofthe prohibition of torture and other forms of ill-treatment before the UnitedNations Treaty Bodies.

TheWorkshop will gather 15 participants for an inter-active 5-day litigationtraining session. Below follows some preliminary information on the training.Participants selected will receive a detailed programme in due course.

Aimsof the training

Theaim of the complaints training is primarily practical, namely to equip participants with the knowledge, skillsand understanding that will enable them to prepare and successfully litigatecases involving violations of the prohibition of torture and other forms ofill-treatment before the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture.To achieve this aim, the 5-day training will focus on a select number of issueswhich, in the OMCT's experience, pose particular challenges in the context oftorture and ill-treatment, including: 1) admissibility rules and theirapplication; 2) evidence and the "establishment of facts" and 3) thewriting of effective pleadings. Recent trends in relevant international andregional jurisprudence will also be addressed.

Methodologyof the training

The 5-dayprogramme will involve presentations by experienced practitioners and OMCTstaff members. The programme will also include interactive group discussions,case studies and skills-development exercises. The latter will focus primarilyon the drafting of legal pleadings.

TrainingMaterials

Thetrainings will primarily be based on Volume 4 of the OMCT Handbook Series: SeekingRemedies for Torture Victims: a Handbook for Victims and Their Advocates[1].The book is a practical guide covering most of the topics, which will beaddressed during the training. Specifically, it provides a step-by-stepdescription of the practice, procedure and jurisprudence of the HCR, CAT andCEDAW. Participants will be expected to be familiar with the book.

Selectionof Participants

The trainingis intended for lawyers and jurists members or working for NGOs that havelimited experience with the individual complaints procedures and who wish toadd this type of action to their regular advocacy strategies.

Preferencewill be given to participants coming from countries that have accepted thecompetence of the Committee against Torture and/or the Human Rights Committeeto receive individual communications through the ratification of the OptionalProtocol to theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[2] orthe declaration pursuant to article 22 of the Convention against Torture.[3] Thesecountries notably include Cambodia, Republic of Korea, the Maldives, Nepal, thePhilippines and Sri Lanka.

OMCTwill also seek the participation of jurists and lawyers working with or for NGOswho would be interested in jointly filing complaints with the OMCTSecretariat as a follow-up to the training. The number of participants islimited and OMCT will consider the registrations in the order they arereceived.

PracticalInformation

OMCTwill cover participants' travel expenses (return air fare to Kuala Lumpur), accommodationand daily subsistence during the training. OMCT will facilitate the obtainingof a visa for Malaysia through issuance of an official letter of invitation.The language of the training will be English. Participants are required to havea good knowledge of English, since there will be no interpretation.

ToRegister

Pleasesend your curriculum vitae, a coverletter, a reference letter from the Head of the human rights organisation yourepresent/support and the attached registration form no later than 28February 2013 to trainings@omct.org

The coverand reference letters should clearly demonstrate the commitment of the human rightsorganisation you support /represent to submit complaints to the Committee against Tortureand/or the Human Rights Committee.

Theapplication can also be sent by fax to+41 (0) 22 809 49 29 but must be received nolater than February 28, 2013.

Alldocuments must be attached ideally in PDF format. Youare also required to send yourapplication in a single message.Application sent in different messages will not be considered.

This training is being held with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Oak Foundation. Its content is of thesole responsibility of OMCT and cannot be considered asreflecting the position of its supportinginstitutions.

[1] This volumeis available on the OMCT website at http://bit.ly/MNrOlv.

[2] Cf. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr-one.htm.

[3] Cf. http://bit.ly/4mwIA