Global Rights Connection

Global Rights Connection is an innovative human rights training program offered entirely online. The second edition took place from November 2, 2022 to February 8, 2023. The 11-week Global Rights Connection training program is no ordinary online course. It’s a collaborative community where participants connect with human rights defenders from around the world and leave with a unique certification in human rights education!

The training is completed! Thank you to all the participants!

Global Rights Connection is a virtual, participatory and transformative training for human rights educators around the world. It aims to build the capacity of participants to carry out human rights education activities using approaches that promote positive social change. 

The program is a unique opportunity for human rights educators to acquire practical tools to improve the effectiveness and impact of their work while deepening their understanding of human rights. 

Participants who successfully complete the program receive a course certificate (eligibility criteria apply). For additional information regarding the implementation of the individual action plan, the course certificate, and the requirements to be eligible for the certificate, please read the information document and consult our Frequently Asked Questions.

‘‘My improved knowledge of human rights education, training, defense and promotion from Global Rights Connection will impact my new campaign.” […] First, I will be organizing a training program to stepdown my knowledge from this program to members of my organization and members of this network and then the larger community’’

– Fyneface Dumnamene, Global Rights Connection 2021 Participant

The program consists of 2 phases.

First, the online portion of the training program, lasting 11–weeks, requiring approximately 100 hours of both in-group and self-led learning and training, consisting of 11 learning modules, structured in 3 pillars:

1. Fundamentals of human rights: concepts, values, debates

2. Key approaches and methodologies in human rights education

3. Taking action: from theory to practice

In a transversal way, the training emphasizes gender equality and a gender perspective. Each weekly learning module includes a portion of self-guided individual work (which consists of completing course materials and online modules in preparation for each weekly live group work session), as well as a portion of group work. Each work group is accompanied by a pair of experienced facilitators who adhere to the participatory approach that is central to the program. During this first phase of the program, each participant prepares, with the support of Equitas, an individual action plan to implement what he or she has learned from the training in his or her work (with his or her organization), projects or community. In addition, during these 11 weeks, there are some mandatory lectures on human rights topics as well as optional events, such as a cultural exchange event.

Second, following the online portion of the program, participants move from theory to practice, implementing the individual action plan they created during the first phase.

 → To learn more about the training program, please consult the information document and the Frequently asked questions.

Global Rights Connection is for representatives of civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and government agencies that hold human rights education training activities. Individuals submitting an application must be in a position to influence the human rights education activities of their organization. The participant’s organization must agree to make time available to participate in the training, as well as commit to facilitating the transfer and implementation of the knowledge and approaches acquired by the individual who participated in the training. Other eligibility criteria apply; to find out more about the detailed eligibility criteria, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

From education to action

Throughout the training, as participants acquire new knowledge, they actively reflect on the implementation of this knowledge in their own work context. They develop an individual action plan that they will put into practice in their organization through activities such as training, awareness campaigns, evaluations and follow-ups. During the program, group activities and personalized coaching sessions are offered to establish this indispensable link between theory and action.

Diversity

Through its selection process, Equitas ensures that it fosters broad diversity amongst participants, which undoubtedly contributes to the transformative and participatory nature of the training. The professional experience of the participants, their backgrounds from various regions of the world, the work of their organizations, and their various identities all contribute to this extraordinary diversity that benefits everyone in the training.

Networking

Global Rights Connection is an opportunity for participants to meet other committed individuals who, like them, are working for change in their communities. By taking part in the training, the participants become members of an online community of practice allowing them to network with former program participants and experts and to share tools and resources.

Participatory approach

Global Rights Connection is an immersion into the participatory approach. The participants are at the heart of the process. They analyze their work and create new strategies for action based on their own experiences. Hence, diversity in group composition is fundamental as the participants’ professional experience, varied backgrounds and identities all contribute to the richness of the program. 

Innovation 

Since in-person trainings cannot take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Rights Connection is an opportunity to innovate and experiment with virtual activities that can be replicated by participants. Through accessible technological tools, the training offers practical activities such as simulations, case studies, participatory games, exchanges and spaces for critical reflection, special events with renowned guests and informal and festive moments. The training is therefore dynamic and conducive to the development of human contacts.

Professional development

In addition to a participatory approach, the program familiarizes participants with a human rights-based approach, a gender perspective and a systems approach. The participants acquire and develop tools for improving the effectiveness and the concrete impact of their work. Global Rights Connection helps participants transform their working methods by making them more inclusive and participatory.

Equitas aims at creating an online space that is inclusive, welcoming and safe for human rights educators. To this end, various measures are being adopted through Global Rights Connection: 

• Implementation of digital security measures for human rights educators and initial training to understand digital security issues and how to deal with digital risks. 
• Designation of an Ombudsperson to receive and deal with any complaints or incidents of discrimination that arise during the program. This measure aims to ensure that discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, religious affiliation or other criteria can be denounced confidentially and dealt with in a constructive and restorative manner.
• Creating informal moments for participants to share their impressions of the program, build relationships outside of formal learning activities, and share their reflections, challenges and successes.

The participation fee is $2,300 CAD.

This amount covers covers the full cost of tuition (access to online learning platforms, course materials, coaching provided by the facilitation teams, access to special events, etc.).

Participants are responsible for ensuring that these costs can be covered by other means of funding.

A very limited number of partial and full scholarships will be available. We encourage all our participants to find funding to cover their participation costs.

First, consult the Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you cannot find an answer there, you can contact us at pifdh-ihrtp@equitas.org