The International Leadership Training Programme, organized as a forum, is premised on a three-fold understanding of the vital role leaders play in society. The first is that every new generation of human rights leaders builds on the work of those who came before it. The second is that in today's increasingly interdependent global world, where actions or events in any part of the global system have impact on people in other regions of the world, there is a need to build a network of solidarity and to nurture a new cadre of human rights leaders who can educate others and provide enlightened leadership to meet the complex and multifaceted challenges of the new millennium. And the third is that young people are a force to be reckoned with and that the future belongs to them. In order, to ensure that they are effective leaders for a better future, today’s leaders have a duty to impart their knowledge to the younger generation of leaders and to alert it of the pitfalls of the past. This is because, although the circumstances under which the new generation of leaders operates/will operate are different, the issues that confront them are not fundamentally new to humanity and the types of strategies that would help them tackle the various issues need not be completely reinvented but innovatively adapted to new circumstances.
 
A principal reason why the intergenerational forum focuses on young leaders specifically is because, more than any other group in society, their training will most likely have great and ripple impact on society. Accordingly, the Forum will place premium on nurturing and developing young people for local and global leadership and building bridges and a network of solidarity, which promote the sharing of experiences and understanding of, and provide an impetus for, the empowerment of young leaders that will enable them to play a crucial and constructive role in the development of human rights in their communities and the world at large. The conference will provide tools and a platform for open debates about policies, programs, activities and processes necessary for human rights leadership.
 
In appreciation of the dynamics of an interdependent world, the UNESCO Chair will host an annual intergenerational forum that brings together young leaders from all regions of the world in the field of human rights once annually.  The forum will be held in August of each year to coincide with the International Youth Day, taking place on August 12, 2009, commemorated at the United Nations Headquarters in the USA. This will provide opportunities for participants to participate in Youth Day activities and meet with UN leaders. To complement the annual forum, regional fora will also be held in various continents.

APPROACH AND OBJECTIVES
The Leadership Training Programme is informed by the principle of reciprocal consultation, learning and empowerment and cross pollination of ideas and ideals.

Participants at the forum will be individuals from all over the world who have been involved in some capacity in human rights work in their communities.  Selected young people will engage through dialogue with experienced and older human rights practitioners to gain management skills and techniques and a greater understanding of human rights issues on a global level.
 
The main objectives of the Forum are to: involve young leaders in finding solutions to emerging human rights problems; nurture individuals to be effective leaders in the field of human rights; promote the sharing of experiences and understanding; provide an impetus for, and the empowerment of, youth leaders that will enable them to play a crucial and constructive role in the development of human rights in their communities; build a network of solidarity among future leaders in the field of human rights; hone the skills and expand the knowledge relevant to human rights practice; and provide tools and a platform for open debates about policies, programmes, activities and processes necessary for human rights leadership.
 
Participants at the forum will be individuals (ages 18-30) from all over the world who have been involved in some capacity in human rights work in their communities. Participants will receive training in areas such as grassroots organizing, building coalitions, effective communication, use of media for human rights education, and understanding of the processes and relevance of restorative justice. It is planned that discussions will be conducted under the rubric of four principal areas; namely poverty, education, health, conflict resolution and/or transformation. Specific areas of focus will include issues such as human trafficking, the plight of children, refugees and war, hunger, HIV/AIDS, religious intolerance, gender discrimination, racism and classism, peace education and environmental concerns.
 
Selected young people will engage through dialogue with experienced and older human rights practitioners to gain management skills and techniques and a greater understanding of human rights issues on a global level. A principal objective is to nurture individuals to be effective leaders in the field of human rights. Forum presenters/speakers/facilitators have been asked to serve in an ongoing capacity as mentors to the young participants upon their return to their home communities and countries.

OUTCOMES
To continue dialogue and exchange of ideas among the participants and to enable mentors to share their insights, a group email distribution list (listserv) and a group page on a social networking site will be established to facilitate on-going communication.

Publication: A summary of the highlights of the forum will be published together with contribution from participants who will be asked to write essays about the practical application of the forum to their areas and communities of engagement.  Ten to twenty of the best and representative essays will be selected for publication annually for wider dissemination. The publication will track progress made by participants, as well as serve as a record of activities by participants. Action plans worked out collectively by participants will be widely disseminated.

Please note: All forum participants will be provided with resource materials (i.e. website/listserv information), certificate of participation, lodging, meals and ground transportation. As post-conference follow-up, the UNESCO Chair will also establish a website and group e-mail distribution list (listserv) to allow for the support and continuation of the work started at the forum. The website and listserv will also enable participants to remain in contact with their mentors and with one other.

The Forum will be held in English. Fluency in English is required.

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Peliminary Schedule of Events:

Thursday, December 31, 2009

• All Forum Participants Arrive

Friday, January 1, 2010

• Registration
• Tours
• Orientation/Team Building/Ice Breakers/Updates and Sharing of Experiences

Saturday, January 2, 2010

• Introductions
• Opening Ceremony
• Welcome by Commissioner Kayitesi S. Zainabo
• Overview/Objectives by Prof. Amii Omara-Otunnu
• Official Opening Address by President Kagame
• Keynote Address by Hon. Desmond Tutu (invited)
• Group Photo

Sunday, January 3, 2010

• Millennium Development Goals
  
  
• Rwanda in the Aftermath of Genocide: Challenges and Achievements
  Gerry Caplan (confirmed)

• Culture of Peace
  Dr. David Adams (confirmed)

• Democracy, Militarism and the Rule of Law
  Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu, UNESCO Chair-holder, USA (confirmed)

• Regional Applications to Issues of International Law, Peace and Security (Role of OAU)
  

Monday, January 4, 2010

• Youth Leadership, Sustainability and Ethics
  Prof. Akpezi Ogbuigwe, Nigeria (invited)

• Poverty and Health

• Impact of War on Society

• Gender Violence and Empowerment Panel

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

• Participation in Community Activities with Members of Parliament/Ministers

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

• Participation in Community Activities with Members of Parliament/Ministers

Thursday, January 7, 2010

• Participation in Community Activities with Members of Parliament/Ministers
• Reflections, Sharing of Experiences from Community Activities

Friday, January 8, 2010

• Refine resolutions in small groups
• Communicate, Coordinate and Approve Resolutions
• Arts/Culture Night

Saturday, January 9, 2010 –

• The Media, Democracy and Peace Building Panel
  Mr. Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times East Africa Bureau Chief (confirmed)
  Ms. Colleen Lowe Morna (invited)

• Report-outs
• Evaluations
• Farewell/Closing Ceremony
• Cultural Group Entertainments

Sunday, January 10, 2010

• Departures

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Application is by invitation only and is limited to past UNESCO Chair Forum Alumni

Requirements for Rwanda 2010:

Fluency in English is required. Forum Alumni requesting to attend the first regional forum in Rwanda should submit the following:

A letter of intent (750-1000 words) by September 30, 2009 to unescochair@uconn.edu. In this letter, please explain:

1. Why you are keen to attend the Rwanda Forum and what contributions you feel young leaders can make in advancing human rights.
2. Please also include four provisions (suggestions) that you think should be part of resolutions calling upon the international community in general and young leaders in particular, to promote greater realization of human rights in Africa.
3. In order to facilitate entry into Rwanda, be sure to include your legal name as found in your passport, your passport number and any relevant details.

*Please note: Submission deadline is September 30, 2009. Applicants who are not able to commit to the conference in its entirety should not apply.

For additional information:
If you have questions regarding the application/registration, program content, special needs requirements, or dormitory housing, please call the UNESCO Chair Office at 860-486-0647 or email unescochair@uconn.edu.

University of Connecticut
UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights
233 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4124
Storrs, CT 06269-4124

860.486.0647 Phone
860.486.2545 Fax

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Travel/Housing:

Please check back for additional details

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Airlines & Local Transportation

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University of Connecticut
UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights
233 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4124
Storrs, CT 06269-4124

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