The International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) is an annual three-week training program designed to strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to engage in effective human rights education (e.g., training, awareness campaigns, information dissemination and advocacy) aimed at building a global culture of human rights.

In recent years, Equitas alumni have applied their learning while contributing to the following changes:
• India – Successful village-level campaigns led by children to end the practice of female infanticide
• Kenya – A successful campaign to introduce compulsory and free primary education
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – Mobilization of women in a campaign in Eastern Congo to end impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence
• Haiti – Empowerment of Haitian youth to promote and defend their human rights and the rights of others

The Program uses a participant-centred approach that encourages reciprocal learning through an exchange of experiences among participants, facilitators and resource persons. Up to 130 participants representing non-governmental organizations, National Human Rights Institutions, government agencies and educational institutions from approximately 60 countries attend the program in Montréal every year. Over 3,000 people have attended the IHRTP since 1980.

 Next session: June 3-22, 2012

The application period is now over

The IHRTP is a unique and important Canadian contribution to the spread of human rights and democratic principles around the world. The program acts as a cornerstone in the development and success of Equitas’ overseas programs, particularly the Global Human Rights Education Program. It is through the IHRTP, that Equitas has its first meetings with many of the organizations who become our partners. During the IHRTP, they learn about Equitas and our approach to human rights education and we begin to learn about their issues and explore the possibility of working together.

In the words of IHRTP alumni:
“After the Equitas training we started to apply participatory methods in our trainings, giving people the opportunity to actively learn about their human rights. The number of participants has increased and people now are very open and active in demanding their rights.”- Participant from Azerbaijan, 2007

“You will be happy to know that recently I conducted a training program on “Advocacy and Rights Based Approaches” with managers of the Acid Survivors Foundation Bangladesh, Water Aid Bangladesh, Plan International and indigenous staff of Community Development Centre in Chittagong and Dhaka. I developed the training manuals by incorporating materials from the 2005 and 2009 IHRTP.” – Participant from Bangladeshm

“Thank you Equitas for equipping me to move forward with confidence.” – Participant from South Africa, 2008

This Program is made possible with the generous support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).