Intended for government officials, lawyers, journalists, students and other civil society representatives, the tailored training programs aim at offering participants a unique, hands-on exposure to the working methods of international organizations in Geneva, particularly the United Nations, through active participation in the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, visits to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other relevant Geneva-based institutions.

The training programmes also aim at promoting national capacity building, especially with regard to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, through developing tailored programmes to enhance human rights awareness, knowledge and skills of the upcoming generations in the Arab region.

The programmes offered by the Geneva Centre take place generally three times a year, whenever possible concomitantly with the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. Consequently, the three training cycles are held annually in March, June and September. The Geneva Centre’s human rights training programme is unique for the following reasons:

• The Centre adjusts to the level, background and future careers needs of the participants;
• Besides its experienced staff, the Centre invites high-level lecturers and experts, available in Geneva academia and international organizations, with solid theoretical and practical experience in human rights law and international humanitarian law, to deliver innovative training modules.
• Participants learn the methods and techniques to work with such mechanisms as Human Rights Council (HRC), Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies, and Special Procedures.
• The Geneva Centre’s trainings specifically address the role of civil society in human rights negotiations.

Find out more about our previous training courses and workshops here.

For more information on the Geneva Centre’s Training programs and internships, kindly contact our Training Specialist Ms Alia Fares.