Launched in 2005, the Minorities Fellowship Programme (MFP) is OHCHR’s (Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights) most comprehensive training program for human rights and minority rights defenders belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.
At the end of the MFP, the fellows should have a general knowledge of the United Nations system, international human rights instruments and mechanisms in general and those relevant to minorities in particular and be capable of further training their communities/organizations. The Programme furthermore serves as an opportunity for human rights activists working towards the protection and promotion of minority rights to expand their partners’ base by building a strategic dialogue with fellow activists from across the globe, the United Nations, relevant Geneva-based NGOs, amongst other partners.
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Now offered in three linguistic components: English/Russian/Arabic; this year, the MFP will take place from 2 – 30 November 2020, in Geneva, Switzerland, and fellows will be able to participate as well in the 12th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues.
Selection Process
The selection of fellows reflects a gender and regional balance. The general human rights situation in the respective regions/countries is also taken into consideration, as is the situation of the minority community to which the applicant belongs.
Location:
SwitzerlandBenefits
Fellows are entitled to the following:
- A return ticket (economy class) from the country of residence to Geneva;
- Basic health insurance for the duration of the Programme;
- A stipend to cover modest accommodation and other living expenses for the duration of the Programme.
Eligibilities
- The candidate must belong to a national, ethnic, linguistic or religious minority group (persons who do not belong to a minority group will not be taken into consideration, even if they have close links with minority communities and/or organizations).
- NOTE: If your community identifies as indigenous, please do not apply to this program but to our Indigenous Fellowship Programme. Please note that the Indigenous Fellowship is a separate program and has different application forms and deadlines.
- Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the Minorities Fellowship Programme if relevant experience can be demonstrated.
- Candidates should have the ability, willingness and possibility to train other persons belonging to minorities upon return to their respective communities/organizations and should agree to do so.
- The candidates must have a good working knowledge of the language in which the program is imparted.
- The candidate should be proposed and his/her candidacy supported by his/her organization and/or community. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization has a firm constituency or membership, is representative, undertakes work on minority issues and is composed of persons belonging to minorities.
- The overall goal of the Minorities Fellowship Programme is to offer persons belonging to minorities the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the field of international human rights in order to assist their organizations and communities in protecting and promoting human and minority rights. Therefore, it is important that the candidate proposed and nominated by a minority organization or community be someone who will return to his or her NGO to work in this field.
Application Process
Fellowship application forms can be downloaded from the Apply link (available in English, Russian and Arabic).
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Application Deadline: February 28, 2020
Application ClosedOfficial link
