Deadline:
May 31, 2026
Program Starts: September 09, 2025
Program Ends: September 11, 2025
Location(s)
Switzerland
The course will take place at kHaus, a dynamic urban meeting place and cultural center situated in the heart of Basel along the picturesque Rhine River. Conveniently situated, the venue is easily accessible via public transportation, merely a 15-minute journey from the Basel SBB train station.
Overview
Details
Human rights and conflict transformation are instrumental for societies seeking peace and social justice. Over time, recognition of the close links between human rights, conflict, peace, and development has grown, and a certain blurring of boundaries between these fields of practice has been observed. Yet experiences indicate that linking human rights and conflict transformation effectively is often easier said than done, partly because they can complement and contradict each other.
- familiarize yourself with key concepts, focus areas, and strategies in the fields of human rights and conflict transformation;
- understand the relevance of linking human rights and conflict transformation for dealing with past conflicts;
- gain analytical and methodological skills allowing them to incorporate the course content into their own work in various conflict-related situations;
- understand both short and long-term challenges and dilemmas related to linking human rights and conflict transformation and explore strategies for addressing these;
- critically reflect on dominant policy paradigms and programming practices at the complex interface between human rights and conflict transformation;
- exchange experiences and become part of a community of practice.
This course aims at familiarizing participants with key normative assumptions, policy frameworks, and practices in the fields of human rights and conflict transformation. Drawing on international cases such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Cambodia and Ukraine and participants’ experiences, we will consider questions such as: what is the value of linking human rights and conflict transformation? What can these perspectives and fields of practice contribute to one another? What challenges and dilemmas remain, and what are strategies for addressing them?
Leading international scholars as well as experienced practitioners from government, international organizations and civil society facilitate this course.
Expert:
- Dr. Tobias Hagmann, Senior Program Officer, Dealing with the Past, swisspeace (Course Lead)
- Aden Abdi, Africa Department Director, Conciliation Resources
- Dr. Olena Rybiy, Lecturer & Research Fellow, University of Basel
- Dr. Julie Bernath, Senior Researcher, Dealing with the Past, swisspeace
- Claudia Josi, Senior Program Officer, Dealing with the Past, swisspeace
- Dr. Lisa Ott, Head, Dealing with the Past, swisspeace
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
This course is designed for:
- Practitioners and aspiring practitioners in the fields of peacebuilding, humanitarian work, international relations, human rights, or business in fragile contexts
- Representatives of non-governmental organizations whose mission and mandate include peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and transformation
Candidates must have:
- a university degree in a related discipline such as political science, law, economics or sociology
- at least two years of professional experience
- a good command of English
Dates
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Program starts:
September 09, 2025
Program ends:
September 11, 2025
Program Starts: September 09, 2025
Program Ends: September 11, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
TUITION FEE: 1,700 CHF
Unfortunately, we cannot provide scholarships for this course. Participants (or their employer) must be able to cover the tuition fee.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
