Human rights litigation is one of the methods by which civil society organizations can bring about social change. This course for human rights professionals will develop the skills and knowledge needed to successfully bring cases to the regional human rights systems and the UN Treaty bodies. Participants will be invited to provide information on concrete cases that they are involved in which will be discussed during the course.

The course includes modules that examine the steps involved in strategic litigation, such as case selection, client care, and forum choice, as well as the specific legal stages of admissibility, exhausting domestic remedies and preparing substantive arguments. Case studies will examine how to build a strong evidential record in support of the case, how to develop campaigning and advocacy to raise awareness of the issues involved, and how to implement a successful judgment.

A faculty of human rights practitioners from the Open Society Justice Initiative and academics from Central European University will be joined by visiting experts, creating a wide body of expertise. Workshops will focus on key skills such as advocacy in support of litigation, human rights research, legal drafting, communications, and dealing with the ethical problems that arise in human rights cases. Modules in specific subject areas will allow participants to examine key issues in their field, including discrimination, freedom of expression and information, violations in the context of migration, torture and ill-treatment in detention, and rights upon arrest and at trial.