The project participants received theoretical knowledge about how to use the international and European human rights protection mechanisms and how to work with the international standards at the national level. About 30 lawyers and human rights defenders have graduated from the project, received diplomas and certificates of attendance.
During the studying process participants of the project “Bring International Standards Home” of the program “International Law in Advocacy” worked with Belarusian and international experts, received information about the international system of human rights protection, possibilities of working with the UN mechanisms in the field of human rights and good practices in human rights protection.
During the closing session, the participants of the project took part in the moot court, that allowed to strengthen and demonstrate the knowledge gained in the project.
“This is the third group of graduates of the project. From 2006 a lot of work was done and as a result more than 100 graduates are working in Belarus right now. Our goal remains relevant – to use the richness of arguments and institutions in order to change the national legal systems in the direction of a human rights culture, where the source of law is man himself. With these tools, we are able to help each other within the country, help the legal system and our colleagues in other countries,”- stressed program manager of “International Law in Advocacy” Liudmila Ulyashyna (left) in her welcoming address to the participants of session.
Expressing solidarity and demonstrating a willingness to support their colleagues, who faced difficulties, the participants of the “International Law in Advocacy” prepared statement on the situation with the detention of Intigam Aliyev and arrests of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. The authors of the statement call upon all those concerned to join the wider campaign to support and fight for the liberation of Intigam Aliyev and other political prisoners. The statement can be signed here.
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The project “Bring International Standards Home. De facto implementation of international obligations of the Republic of Belarus in the field of civil rights and freedoms” is part of the Human Rights House Network’s program “International Law in Advocacy”. The project was developed by a team of lawyers and human rights defenders in 2005 and has since been carried out by partner organizations of the Human Rights House Foundation in collaboration with international and national experts.
Since the beginning of the project and to date, the project partners – non-governmental organizations in Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Norway and Lithuania have been working together to ensure that lawyers and human rights defenders in Belarus had the opportunity to improve their skills in the application of international standards in the protection of human rights and freedoms.
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The organizers express special gratitude to the administration of Vilnius University for the assistance in the event.
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