Summer School on Migration and Human Rights

International migration and mobility are global growing phenomena involving more and more often mixed migration flows and triggering new challenges in the areas of security and human rights, just to mention a few. Analysing migration as a crosscutting topic and considering the perspectives of both migrants and States as well as other fundamental actors in the system of global governance is crucial for the development and implementation of national policies compliant with international human rights, migration, asylum, trafficking, and labour standards. According to the International Migrant Stock 2020, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), international migrants globally reached an estimated 281 million in 2020 (that is, 3,6% of the world’s population), an increase of 60 million since 2010. As reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), global displacement continues to grow and reached at the end of 2021 the number of 89.3 million people, with above 1 per cent of the world population – or 1 in 88 people – being forcibly displaced worldwide, either within the borders of their States or abroad. Among those forcibly displaced, internally displaced persons (IDPs) reached the number of 53.2 million and refugees are at over 27.1 million.

Although there are numerous international legal instruments in place to ensure the protection of human rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and trafficking victims, violations frequently occur. Indeed, despite the potential significant benefits of migration, economic migrants, smuggled migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and victims of trafficking remain among the most vulnerable members of society and are exposed to discrimination, abuse, and exploitation by a number of actors, including transnational organized-crime networks and terrorist organizations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10, Target 7 a pledge by United Nations’ Member States to “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”. Moreover, the adoption in 2018 of two Global Compacts, respectively, on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and on Refugees is a clear indicator of the relevance of international migration in the system of global governance.

With these considerations in mind, UNICRI, in cooperation with John Cabot University (JCU), will deliver the eighth edition of the Summer School on Migration and Human Rights, a one-week course shedding light on current issues related to international migration. Participants will be guided into the understanding of a variety of concepts and topics and will be engaged in discussing issues related, amongst others, to:

- International migration, trafficking, and asylum laws
- Internally displaced persons
- Irregular migration by sea
- Migration and rural development
- Right to health for migrants and refugees
- Migration and the challenge of religious pluralism
- Migration, development, and integration
- Global displacement

Course leader

UNICRI is one of the main training and research institutes of the United Nations System.
John Cabot University is an independent, four-year liberal arts university located in the heart of Rome.

Target group

The course is designed for university graduates in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Social Science, and other relevant disciplines. It is also addressed to young professionals working in governmental institutions, local authorities, international and non-governmental organizations seeking to deepen their understanding of current human rights issues affecting migrants. Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

Hold a three-year university degree issued by an internationally recognized university in one of the aforementioned areas; and
Have a very good working knowledge of English.

Applications from students who expect to graduate at the end of the 2022/23 academic year will also be considered.

Course aim

The Summer School offers professional, legal, social, scientific, and academic perspectives through theoretical lectures, group discussions, dynamic case studies, individual readings, and practical exercises. The faculty of the Summer School is composed of leading scholars and academics from John Cabot and other universities, representatives of the United Nations system, international human rights bodies, and the civil society.

Attending the course in person at the JCU’s beautiful campus in the heart of Rome, participants will have the opportunity to interact with international recognized experts and peers from all over the world, to exchange view and opinions and build lasting professional relationships. This experience fosters intercultural dialogue and promotes a deeper understanding of some of the world’s most complex and debated issues.

Fee info

USD 1100: Registration fees includes:
- Tuition
- Course material

In the event of a participant cancellation for any reason, including VISA denial, registration fees will not be refunded.

Scholarships

No.