AUTUMN SCHOOL

International Intensive Course

Building competencies and awareness on the international protection of children, particularly girls, affected by armed conflict

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Organized by the Institute of Political Studies “S. Pio V” and the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

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4 – 19 October 2021

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The Autumn School is an international intensive course held online that offers the possibility of academic and professional training on the subject of international human rights law and international humanitarian law with regard to the protection of children in armed conflict and with a specific focus on gender issues.

The Autumn School is open to all those interested in learning more about the protection of children affected by armed conflict.  The course will cover key issues related to the protection of children in armed conflict, in particular girl children, offering the participant a comprehensive knowledge of the topic.  The classes will provide both a theoretical and practical perspective and will involve the participation of auditors from different fields of study and training. 

The course also aims at ensuring a space for networking in order to create like-minded Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) and United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 “champions groups” coordinated by the professors of the course. These groups will be composed by a maximum of 10 participants who will work on specific topics by exchanging ideas/experiences. These groups will be the protagonists of the last two days of the course: each of them will elaborate together a paper as result of the exchange of ideas that will be illustrated by one representative per group during a final round table with professors and experts.

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Participants/Auditors: It is required that the participants have a background in Law, Political Science, International Relations or Sociology. It is preferable that participants hold a University degree (at least a BA or equivalent with 3 years of studies in these disciplines) or have an equivalent professional experience in a relevant field. Having already completed a three-year course is a non-mandatory requirement.

Students or graduates of other disciplines will be considered depending upon the courses they have followed.

 

We particularly encourage the participation of those from the universities and research centers that are part of the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict as well as organizations working in the sector.

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Schedule: The 40 hours Autumn School will be held online from 4th to 19th October 2021 (two weeks from Monday to Thursday plus two days, for a total of 10 days). The attendance of participants from different countries and geographical areas is foreseen. For this reason the difference in time zones will be considered and the course will be held from 2.30 to 6.30 pm CET so to allow every participant to attend it.

The online course will be recorded and made available to enrolled people for consultation also in the days following the school.

 

The courses will be held in English and French.  

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Deadline for course registration: 20th September 2021

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A certificate will be issued at the end of the course.

 

COURSE ORGANIZATION

The Autumn School favours a balance between theory and practice with a multidisciplinary approach. Participants will receive an overview of international and regional instruments available for the protection of children in armed conflict from speakers working in the sector and bringing their experience and expertise to the discussion.

The speakers will be selected from international and regional organizations, institutions and agencies, NGOs, and will include professors and experts in different fields.

In the last two days of the course, group work is planned with the aim of discussing specific issues addressed during the course, with regard in particular to Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) and United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and in order to create like-minded “champions groups” on these topics. 

Moreover, a final individual examination of the course is foreseen. It will consist of an essay of a maximum of 10 pages; each student will therefore elaborate an essay on a specific topic that must be communicated by the end of the eighth day of the course. The essay must be sent not later than 5 days after the end of the course. 

The best essays will be published in a scientific publication.

 

10 hours of individual study will be considered in addition to the duration of the course for the elaboration of this final essay.

 

The certificate will be issued at the end of the course after receiving the final individual essay and with a minimum attendance of 70% of the entire course.