COMPLAINTS WORKSHOP
Geneva, Switzerland
VENUE:
Maison des Associations
15 Rue des Savoises
Geneva, Switzerland
Room: Mahatma Gandhi
DATE:
6 – 9 May 2008
The OMCT Complaints Training Workshop will take place 6 – 9 May 2008 at the OMCT Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. The aim of the workshop is to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to prepare and successfully litigate cases involving violations of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment before the United Nations Human Rights Committee and Committee against Torture. To this end, the workshop will gather NGO advocates from around the world in a small group setting for an interactive 4 day litigation training session. Taking full advantage of OMCT’s location in Geneva, participants will benefit from the contributions of leading experts in the field of human rights including academics, practitioners, UN personnel and OMCT staff. Interactive group discussions, case studies and skills-development exercises will further hone participants’ litigation skills. The trainings will be based on Volume 4 of the OMCT Handbook Series – Seeking Remedies for Torture Victims: a Handbook on the Individual Complaints Procedures of the UN Treaty Bodies – a practical guide covering most of the topics addressed during the workshop.
Day 1 Tuesday, 6 May 2008
14h00 Opening
14h15 Introduction to UN Treaty Body Supervisory Mechanisms
Boris Wijkström, OMCT Legal Advisor
14h30 The Treaty Bodies: Bringing Human Rights Home
Screening and Discussion
17h00 Macedonia Case Study I
NGO Briefing, Committee against Torture, Palais Wilson
Day 2 Wednesday 7 May 2008
09h00 Best Practices & Follow-Up to Complaints
Catherine Phuong, OHCHR Petitions Officer; Room 3-016, Palais Wilson
10h00 Macedonia Case Study II
Consideration of Macedonia Report, CAT, Palais Wilson
12h30: Lunch
13:30 Treaty Body Complaints
Boris Wijkström, OMCT Legal Advisor
· Admissibility
· Litigation Practice
· Follow-Up
15:00 Break
15:10 Torture Current Challenges
Eric Sottas, OMCT Secretary General
16h00 Special Rapporteur on Torture: Mandate & Working Methods
Ms. Birgit Kainz, Assistant to the Special Rapporteur on Torture, OHCHR
17h00 Individualized Case Review Meetings & Choice of Forum Discussion Boris Wijkström, Amandine Gallais, Jastine Barrett
Day 3 Thursday, 8 May 2008
09h00 The Human Rights Council: Overview & Developments
Mr. Gareth Sweeney, Deputy Manager, ISHR
10h00 Choice of Forum in Torture Cases
Prof. Alexander Morawa, University of Lucerne, Switzerland
11h20 Break
11h30 “Moot Court” Exercise: Choice of Forum
Prof. Alexander Morawa, University of Lucerne, Switzerland
13h45 Lunch
15h00 Macedonia Case Study III
Replies from Macedonia, CAT, Palais Wilson
17h30 Debriefing & Discussion on Macedonia Case Study
Ms. Mariana Duarte and Ms. Orlane Varesano,Violence Against Women Programme; Ms. Cécile Trochu, Child Rights Programme; Ms. Jasminka Friscik, ESE Macedonia.
18h30 Presentation OMCT Programmes
19h00 Reception
Day 4 Friday, 9 May 2008
09h00 European System: Evidence in Torture Cases and Positive Obligations under Article 3
Mr. Hasan Bakirci, Registry, European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg
10h30 Break
10h40 European System: Rule 39 Measures
Ms. Natasha Pace Abu-Ghosh, Registry, European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg
12h00 Lunch
13h00 Inter-American System: Recent Jurisprudence (Torture)
Diego Rodriguez-Pinzón, Co-Director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University, Washington, DC, USA
14h30 Break
14h40 Inter-American System: Continued
Diego Rodriguez-Pinzón, Co-Director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University, Washington, DC, USA
16h00 Workshop Evaluation Discussion
17h00 Conclusion