Statelessness Intensive Course 2020

The Statelessness Intensive Course aims to provide participants with the skills and practical tools to understand and address the problem of statelessness. Focusing on case studies from the Asia Pacific region, where the issue of statelessness is particularly salient, the course covered such topics as:

  • the meaning of nationality in international law
  • the core international treaties relevant to statelessness
  • the right to nationality and deprivation of nationality
  • the intersection between refugeehood and statelessness
  • statelessness determination frameworks
  • the nexus between statelessness, minorities, discrimination and development
  • childhood statelessness
  • the relationship between statelessness and gender discrimination
  • identity, birth registration and the prevention of statelessness.

Directed by Professor Michelle Foster, the program also features UNHCR representatives, renowned international legal scholars and statelessness practitioners.

The program is suitable for a wide range of participants, including representatives from government, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, lawyers, advocates, decision-makers, scholars and students.

Though the program and lecturers for the 2020 course are still being finalised, these details from the 2019 course can be viewed here.

2019 Course Participants
2019 Intensive Course Participants
  • General Information

    Key Dates

    15 August 2019 Deadline for Early Bird and Scholarship Applications
    15 October 2019 Final Applications Deadline

    **Please note that applications for the 2020 Statelessness Intensive Course have now closed. To sign up for the Waiting List, please click the link at the bottom of this page.**

    Cost

    Tuition fee: $1,300 AU

    Venue

    Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham St, Carlton.

    Materials

    All course materials will be provided, with any prior reading material to be sent electronically in the weeks before the course.

    Language

    All sessions and course materials will be in English, and therefore applicants should have proficiency in the English language.

  • Scholarships

    **Please note that applications for the 2020 Statelessness Intensive Course have now closed. To sign up for the Waiting List, please click the link at the bottom of this page.**

    Limited scholarships are available, covering course fees and accommodation at Queen's College on the University campus for the duration of the course (checking in Sun 3 Feb and checking out Fri 7 Feb). Note that scholarships do not cover airfares or any additional nights of accommodation.

    Priority for scholarships will be given to applicants from developing countries. (Developing countries are defined as those with low or medium levels of human development as classified by the UNDP – see http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries.)

    Note that scholarship applicants are required to include a supporting letter from a referee (professional or academic).

  • Accommodation

    We are pleased to offer accommodation at Queen's College on the University of Melbourne campus (single rooms with shared bathrooms) for the total price of AU $460. This package comprises five nights of accommodation including daily breakfast and dinners on two evenings. This is comfortable but basic student-style accommodation. Learn more about Queen's College.

    A list of nearby accommodation options will also be provided to participants wishing to stay elsewhere.

    Queens College Melbourne

  • Past participants on their experience

    Taught by leading experts, the Statelessness Intensive Course offers a unique opportunity to situate current debates on citizenship, identity and inclusion on a solid foundation of international human rights law and social science. The interdisciplinary nature of the course and diversity of participants provides for rich and engaging discussions over the five days.
    Helen Brunt, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

    The course offers a fantastic blend of theory and practice. An array of knowledgeable experts combined passion for the subject with clarity and commitment to effective delivery. Participants are drawn from academia, government, affected communities, international and national agencies and professionals, making it an infinitely enriching learning and networking experience.
    Jelvas Musau, Senior Regional Protection Officer (Statelessness), UNHCR Regional Office for South East Asia

    The Statelessness Intensive provided not only a robust academic experience with regard to the under-explored topic of statelessness, but also an excellent opportunity to connect with others working in this space from diverse backgrounds and a wide array of disciplines and practice areas, ranging from academic to civil society and from multilateral institutions to independent advocates – all bringing valuable perspectives.  
    Ashley Kinseth, Executive Director, Statelessness Dignity Project

    It was a wonderful experience, not only were all aspects of statelessness addressed but enormous representation from across the globe allowed various different perspectives and solutions to regional and global problems.
    Palak Chaudhari, Project Officer, Prison Reforms, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, India

    This was an incredibly insightful course. It allowed me to develop and consolidate my foundational knowledge of statelessness from an interdisciplinary perspective. I enjoyed not only learning the legal and technical aspects of addressing statelessness but also discussing the underlying causes and consequences, hearing from those personally affected by statelessness and having the opportunity to meet with experts, colleagues and activists in the field.
    Nesha Balasubramanian, Australia Pro Bono Associate, DLA Piper

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