UNITAR is now accepting applications for the July-August 2006 Session of the UN/UNITAR Fellowship Programme in International Law. The 2006 Fellowship Programme will be conducted in English. Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Specific Information on the 2006 Programme
The Fellowship Programme will take place in the Peace Palace in The Hague/Netherlands from 10 July to 18 August 2006. Please note that the deadline for applications is 10 Feburary 2006.

Candidates from the following countries, which were granted fellowships last year, are not eligible to apply for a fellowship in 2006:

Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia, Honduras, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Niger, Peru, Sao Tome-and-Principe, Seychelles and Togo.

The following information note contains all the details about the organisation and the content of the course.

General Information

Background

The UN/UNITAR Fellowship Programme In International Law was launched under the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, established by General Assembly resolution 2099 (XX). The Fellowship Programme is jointly organized by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs and the United Nations Insitute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Objectives

The fellowships are intended to enable qualified professionals from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular mid-level government officials and young university teachers of international law, to acquire additional knowledge on international law and on the legal work of the United Nations and its associated bodies.

Qualifications of International Law Fellows

To qualify for the fellowship, candidates must be between 24 and 40 years old. They should be law graduates with practical experience in the field of international law acquired by working for a public or private organization or a university. The Programme will accomodate between 15 and 20 participants.

The fellowships are available to applicants from developing countries, least developed countries and countries in economic transition. Candidates from other countries can apply for participation on a self-financed basis only.

Course Content

The Programme comprises participantion in UN/UNITAR seminars, attendance of lectures at the Hague Academy of International Law, as well as study visits.

Subjects on the course curriculum may include the following topics:

• Recent Developments in International Law
• Dispute Resolution
• International Criminal Law and Jurisdiction
• International Humanitarian Law
• Refugee Law
• International Trade Law/The Multilateral Trading System
• The International Protection of Human Rights
• Law of the Sea
• Treaty Law
• International Environmental Law
• The Law of International Watercourses
• Investment Law
• Intellectual Property Law

Selection Process

When selecting participants, the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs/UNITAR joint selection board will give due consideration to the candidates' qualifications, to the scope of their professional duties and to adequate geographical and gender distribution of the fellowships. Applications from femal candidates are encouraged.

Methodology and Training Material

The special UN/UNITAR Programme will be conducted in the form of seminars and debates to allow a maximum of exchange of views. The participants will also be requested to make country presentations on various topics on the agenda of the Fellowship Programme.  To prepare for these presentations, the participants are required to familiarize themselves fully with their respective country's policies, priorities and probles related to particular subjects on the Programme's agenda.

A comprehensive set of training material will be distributed to the participants at the beginning of the Programme.

Lecturers

The courses will be taught by experts of international law, from academic and international circles, including praticioners from both within and outside the United Nations system.

Financial Arrangements and Accommodation

Each fellowship recipient's travel costs will be coverred by the Programme. In accordance with policies and procedures governing the administration of United Nations fellowships, participants will receive a stipend to cover their living expenses. Accommodation, too, will be provided by the Programme.

Application Procedure

To apply for the Programme, please read the instructions on the application form carefully, complete the form legibly and ensure that it arrives by the deadline specified. Applications arriving after the deadline will not be considered. Send the application to:

Isabel Hubert
Senior Programme Coordinator
UNITAR (ILP)
Palais des Nations
1211 Genève 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (22) 917 85 26
Fax:+41 (22) 917 80 47
E-mail: isabel.hubert@unitar.org

Application forms can be downloaded here.

A more detailed description of previous courses can be viewed here.

For additional information, please consult  "Frequently Asked Questions".

Reference: Fellowship Programme in International Law