The Republican Public Association "Legal Initiative" has developed and annually implements the Educational Human Rights Course program. The program is designed for young lawyers and activists of NGOs who already have basic knowledge of human rights. Each cohort of the course consists of 12 trained human rights defenders who professionally protect human rights in Belarusian courts and other state institutions.
Participants acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge on applying international legal norms in national courts and state bodies. The course covers key human rights and freedoms enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, along with methods for their protection. Participants also learn the fundamentals of submitting complaints to the UN Human Rights Committee.
Specifically, the Human Rights Education Course includes training on the protection of the following rights:
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The right not to be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment;
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The right of persons deprived of their liberty to be treated with humanity and dignity;
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The right not to be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy;
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The right to freedom of expression;
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The right to peaceful assembly.
A key feature of the course is its practical approach-participants develop skills and competencies through direct engagement with experienced human rights defenders. They gain hands-on experience from experts in Belarus and other countries, work on real cases, and solve human rights-related problems as part of their coursework.
Special project The Legal Initiative's special project: "International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus".