The Institute for European Affairs, with the support of the US Embassy in the Republic of Serbia, organizes the program "Minority Defenders in Serbia" ( http://iea.rs/en/blog/2019/10/24/poziv-za-ucesce-na-treningu/), which will be implemented in the period from November 26 to December 1, 2019 in Kragujevac.  

The program focuses on the importance and mechanisms of protecting minority rights and aims to provide opportunities for young lawyers, lawyers, law students and recent law graduates to directly contribute to the advancement of human rights in Serbia and thereby improve the skills they will need in the business they perform or will perform.  

The three-month module consists of six days of training, the organization of peer education, media appearances, and writing practical policy proposals. The first training is specifically designed for young lawyers, lawyers, law students and recent law graduates.

Students of law, young law trainees, lawyers and prosecutors from Serbia are invited to apply for taking part in the program. 20 participants will be selected according to their motivation, the principles of regional distribution, cultural and linguistic diversity and gender equality.  Young members of national, religious and other minorities are particularly encouraged to apply for the training.

The program includes the training consisting of lectures, workshops, discussions of participants with university professors, lawyers, representatives of civil society organizations and institutions on the importance of protecting minority rights and their implementation in practice and post-training activities.  The training also includes visits to the institutions important for the training, such as the court, the Ombudsman’s Office and the like.

The training consists of five working days with a very intense agenda. Within each day, four units, which last 90 minutes each, are organized.

After the training, the participants are obliged to hold at least one peer education, have media appearance and write practical policy proposals on the topics covered by the program. 

The filled-in application form, which is available on the website of the Institute for European Affairs (http://iea.rs/ ) under the section "Current  Calls" and in the "Application Form" under the project "Minority Defenders," should be sent to mrd@iea.rs  no later than November 4, 2019. The list of selected participants will be published by November 7, 2019. The organizer will contact only the selected candidates on November 5, between 11am and 4pm. 

The selected applicants will be awarded a one-time scholarship that will cover all costs of accommodation, transportation and meals for the duration of the program. 

If you have any additional questions about the program, please send them to mrd@iea.rs

Source: Institute for European Affairs and Coordination Body