GENERAL INFORMATION
The African Foundation of International Law (AFIL) in close collaboration with the Government of Tanzania established the African Institute of International Law (AIIL) in Arusha, Tanzania, where there are also a number of African and UN judicial institutions that apply international law and the Public Law of African Regional Integration on a daily basis, and require a pool of skills in these important fields. The Institute is an independent, educational and research institution dedicated to the teaching, dissemination and advanced research in international law of relevance to Africa. Its establishment was endorsed by the African Union and welcomed by the United Nations General Assembly.
The Institute under the guidance of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Codification Division, pursuant to resolution 69/117 is organising the first International Law Seminar for African Universities in honour of Ambassador Emmanuel Dadzie of Ghana, who first proposed the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law in 1963. The Programme was established by General Assembly resolution 2099 (XX) of 20 December 1965 to contribute towards a better knowledge of international law as a means of strengthening international peace and security and promoting friendly relations and cooperation among States.
The training seminar is being organised in accordance with the aim of the Institute to enhance teaching and research capacities of associated African law faculties in the field of international law and the law of the African Union. It is being organised with the support of the Government of Ghana and in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Centre, Accra, Ghana, exclusively for teachers and researchers of international law from academic institutions and training centres in Africa. The goal of the Institute is to establish this as an annual international law seminar for teachers/professors/lecturers from faculties of law of the African universities to be conducted in English and French languages in alternating years. The training would afford the participants, who would be provided with teaching materials for their classrooms, a “multiplier effect” that would translate into “teach the teachers who will be teaching an increasing number of law students every year”.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the training is to provide high-quality training by leading scholars and practitioners from different regions and legal systems on a broad range of core subjects of international law, as well as specific subjects of particular interest to African researchers and teachers of international law for their own benefits and their students. In addition, the interactive nature of the training allows the participants to share experiences and exchange ideas, which promotes greater understanding and cooperation on legal matters of the region. The Seminar will also promote cooperation among universities, research institutes and training centers in Africa and thereby contribute to the African Institute’s goal of establishing a network of academic institutions in Africa to promote international law training throughout the continent.
The Seminar is intended to enable qualified professionals, in particular researchers and teachers of international law from African universities to deepen their knowledge of international law, and of the legal work of the United Nations, its associated bodies and of the African Union.
COURSE CONTENT
The two-week seminar would be taught by world-renowned experts in the various fields of International Law on topics, which would include, international law, international organizations, United Nations and African Union law and institutions, international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law as well as practical workshops on teaching and researching international law.
You may also have a look at the curriculum and lecturers.
METHODOLOGY AND TRAINING MATERIAL
The training course would be conducted in the form of interactive seminars and discussions to allow a maximum exchange of views. A comprehensive set of training materials would be provided for each participant at the beginning of the training. Certificates are awarded to those participants who have completed the training seminar in its entirety.
PARTICIPATION/QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS
To qualify for the international law training seminar, candidates should have a minimum of five years teaching or research experience in a research institute, training centre or university in Africa. He or she should be between 24 and 45 years of age at the beginning of the seminar. They must have a legal background with professional experience in the field of international law research or teaching. We envisage the training seminar to accommodate up to 30 participants.
This training seminar is open to candidates from Member States from the African Regional Group of the United Nations.
SELECTION PROCESS
When selecting participants for the International Law Seminar, due consideration is given to the candidates’ qualifications, to the scope of their professional duties, to the relevance of the training to their professional duties and gender balance of the participants. Applications from female candidates are strongly encouraged. Due consideration is also given to those candidates who are already present in the host city of the training seminar.
We invite nominations for this training seminar on or before 31 April 2016 by sending an email to: programs@aiil-iadi.org providing the name and designation and an update CV of the interested participant to this important training seminar.
VENUE AND COURSE LANGUAGE
The International Law Seminar will be held at the facilities of the Kofi Annan Centre, Accra Ghana from 15 to 26 August 2016. It will be conducted in English. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Applicants whose mother tongue or language of instruction is not English are required to submit proof of their language abilities.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ACCOMMODATION
It would be highly appreciated if you could also indicate if the nominated participant would be self-funded and able to bear costs associated with their participation (travel, accommodation and living expenses) or he/she would require a Fellowship to cover these costs. Training materials, tuition and lunches during the training workshop would be provided to all participants free.
Application Deadline: Friday 29 April 2016
Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will not be considered.