World Wide Network on Disability and Human Rights

The course Human Rights and Disability aims at developing the skills of disability right's activists and advocates in their work to secure human rights for people with disabilities.

The courses are funded by Sida - The Swedish international development agency. The organiser is Shia - Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons' International Aid Association.

Objectives of the course

The long-term objectives of the programme are:
To increase the knowledge and respect in society regarding human rights of persons with disabilities.
An increased level of knowledge about and promotion of, disability rights issues in society.

More specifically the programme aims at enhancing knowledge, develop methods and tools, and to provide a foundation for future networking and co-operation among people working in the field of disability and human rights.

Internet - a powerful tool for change

Connecting with activists and relevant networks world wide. Sharing experiences, best practices, challanges on a global scale. Fast updates on what is happening on the international arena. Internet has made all this possible and we want to use it in the work to promote disability rights. For this reason, one important component of the course Human Rights and Disability, is how to use internet as a tool for this.

Participants

The programme targets participants people working in the field of disability and human rights within a variety of sectors, such as Disable d Persons Organisations, government agencies, media, the national justice system, NGOs, International Organisations.

Participants are required to have relevant experience in the Human Rights field, and to be working with an organisation, institution or agency through which he/she can influence decision makers and policies related to disability.

Target Regions

Target regions have been selected countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East/North Africa, Latin America and Europe/Central Asia.

Information and application 2008

You can now apply for the first Human Rights and Disability program 2008. Target areas in 2008 are Middle East/North Africa April 14-25 and Europe/Central Asia October 20-31. The Europe/Central Asia course is still open for application. Please see attached information and application form. Application form in Word is available upon request for persons who have problems using PDF due to visually impairment. Contact us at lisa@shia.se

Previous courses

So far, six courses have been organised: Africa 2005, Asia 2006, Middle East/North Africa 2006 and 2007, and two courses for Latin America 2007. To join the disability rights network formed by the participants, please refer to the course category links.