May 19 – 30, in Nizhny Novgorod, within the framework of the project «Open Hall», the Committee Against Torture together with the Higher School of Economics held two week legal CPD training course for legal practitioners «International Human Rights Standards». It is the first time in the practice of the Committee when such joint courses offered together with a higher educational establishment have been sponsored by the State.
During the two weeks advocates, state penitentiary officers and high school faculty members were introduced to international human rights standards, which the Russian Federation has the obligation to follow under the international treaties and conventions ratified; to international and domestic mechanisms for controlling the implementation of human rights treaties; and to tendencies and problems of international-legal regulation of individual’s legal status.
The CPD training program also included issues of implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights in Russia, human rights legal practices implying the use of the European Court of Human Rights, established as the Convention’s enforceable mechanism, and other international mechanisms.
The classes were given by skilled professionals, human rights defenders and lecturers possessing strong academic background and work experience in the sphere of human rights protection, who employ cutting-edge generally recognized training techniques.
One of the lecturers, a judge of the Supreme Court of Nizhny Novgorod region Roman Yartsev shares his impressions: «It’s wonderful that the course includes presentations performed not only by the best legal practitioners of Nizhny Novgorod, but also by their Moscow colleagues, who have practical knowledge of the European Court of Human Rights case-law and vast experience in the protection of human rights. Hopefully, the knowledge acquired through the training will help the lawyers in their professional development, and will be applied practically».
Sergey Murzakov, Deputy Head, Department of Law of Nizhny Novgorod Branch of the Higher School of Economics, pointed out the high level of the CPD training course: «The program offered is either unique or quite rare as regards its build and target orientation. The Committee Against Torture has elaborated and obtained support from state authorities at the highest level (funded under the order by the President of Russia) for the program of immediate interest, which is of vital importance for the administration of the law to ensure the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. It must be noted that the course has been attended by representatives of security and law-enforcement agencies, advocates and legal community members. This provides for «introducing» human values into the everyday legal practice regardless of particular specialization».
«The positive response of participants and the social demand of this knowledge offer exiting possibilities of our further collaboration with the Committee Against Torture», reviews the results Dean Faculty of Continuing Professional Education and Retraining of the Higher School of Economics, Elena Abrosimova.
On 30 May, upon completion of the course, the participants receive standard CPD training certificates.
Background
In July 2013, Nizhny Novgorod, the Interregional NGO «Committee Against Torture» launched its project «Open Hall. Providing Access to Justice».
The project is one of the winners of the competition for state grants performed by the All-Russia Non-Governmental Movement «Civil Dignity» in accordance with Presidential Decree No 348, signed September 18, 2013, on providing state funding for non-profit non-governmental organizations, which contribute to the development of civil society, participate in projects of social importance, and work in the sphere of protection of rights and freedoms of man and citizen.
Within the framework of the project the two week legal CPD training program for legal practitioners was arranged in order to improve their knowledge in human rights protection, basing on the provisions and case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. The program is also supported by another presidential grant, received by the Committee Against Torture from the regional NGO «Institute of Civil Society Issues» within the project «Independent Public Investigation of Torture».
For more information about the project «Open Hall. Providing Access to Justice», please visit http://otkrytyzal.ru/