Venice School 2013 - Post experience report

The 2013 edition of the Venice School of Human Rights engaged 47 participants coming from 27 different countries in exploring how the theme of the School, Human Rights as our Responsibility, had to be declined when it comes to the rights-based approach to development cooperation, to protection of the rights of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual, as well as to the implications between religion and human rights.

During the first two days of classes (28-29 June), the introductory courses were organized in plenary session by Teresa Pizarro Beleza (Universidad Nova de Lisboa) and Mr. Ryszard Komenda (OHCHR - Russian Federation) with a key note speech by Catarina De Albuquerque (UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation).

During the second week (1-6 July), the students attended classes in three different rooms according to their clusters.

• The responsible of the Human Rights Based Approach to Development Cooperation cluster was Prof. Kostantinos Tararas (UNESCO). Other facilitators for this cluster were Mr. Pablo Espiniella (OHCHR), Mr. Patrick Van Weerelt (UN System Staff College) and Ms Adriana Jacinto (UN System Staff College).

• The responsible of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual Rights cluster was Prof. Koen Lemmens (Leuven Institute for Human Rights and Critical Studies). Other facilitators for this cluster were Prof. Teresa Pizarro Beleza (Universidad Nova de Lisboa), Mr. Ryszard Komenda (OHCHR - Russian Federation), Mr. Mark Bell (University of Leicester), Ms Katayoun Alidadi (KU Leuven) and Ms Lydia Malmedie (E.Malumni).

• The responsible of the Religion and Human Rights cluster was Dr. Eva Maria Lassen (Danish Institute for Human Rights). Other facilitators for this cluster were Prof. Malcom Evans (University of Bristol), Prof. Ingeborg Gabriel (University of Vienna) and Mr. Paul Lemmens (Judge of the European Court of Human Rights).

All participants answered an evaluation form about the programme of the Venice School with some open questions asking suggestions about the 2014 edition. According to this survey, the majority of the students (almost the 90%) were completely satisfied by the Venice School experience and evaluated the lecturers with the average grade of 4.60 on 5.00. The strongest parts of the programme have been the big variety faculty members, both in academic and practical terms, the diverse nationalities and backgrounds of the participants and the methodology of the classes which combined frontal lectures, group discussions, case studies and role plays.

On conclusion of the course, all students received a certificate of attendance, delivered by EIUC Secretary-General Prof. Florence Benoît-Rohmer.