Euro-Med launches “Falk Award” for human rights and refugees

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor announced three awards for three refugees to participate in a 10-day program in Geneva to defend refugees’ rights during the 2019 UN Human Rights Council sessions. The three awards will be given throughout three different sessions of OHCHR in March, June and September.

Background
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor is a non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in Geneva. The organization has regional offices, experts and representatives in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa. The youth led organization not only documents human rights violations, but also makes partnerships with other human rights organizations to make impact and bring change. The Euro-Med, through its projects and detailed reports, seeks to shed light on marginalized groups of victims and affected people, help improving their humanitarian situation and supporting them, and make recommendations for dealing with the humanitarian crises and helping those affected. Euro-Med Monitor are highly concerned with refugee affairs through reports and intensive activities aimed at monitoring violations in the Middle East and North Africa, or on their journey to across the sea to reach Europe or European countries. The Euro-Med Monitor for Human Rights also carries out advocacy campaigns to support refugees and help move the countries to improve their legal and living conditions.

Why Falk Award?
Richard Falk is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Euro-Med Monitor for Human rights and a professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University and a research fellow at Orfalea Centre of Global and International Studies, University of California.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor chose Falk in recognition of his extensive efforts in the field of international law and international relations and advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalized, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, he served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Occupied Palestine, and he is the author of over 20 books, plus countless edited volumes and articles on the subjects of human rights, international law, and global institutions. Falk has also chaired the board of numerous organizations including the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation based in Santa Barbara. Falk also acted as a counsel to Ethiopia and Liberia in the Southwest Africa cases before the International Court of Justice.

The Euro-Med’a activities during the United Nations Human Rights Council
• The Euro-Med's representatives give official speeches during the main session of the Human Rights Council.
• The Euro-Med organizes a number of human rights seminars about issues it covers in the MENA region.
• The Euro-Med's team engages with international institutions and attends seminars and activities held during the period the sessions are held.

What does the award include?
Three of the applicants will be selected to travel to Geneva for ten days during the regular sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. The first applicant will be selected to travel to attend the March 2019 session of the Council, while the second will be selected to attend the June session, and the third will be selected to attend the September session.
This opportunity will cover travel cost, accommodation, food and transportation.
The selected persons will join the Euro-Med team in Geneva for ten days and will attend the Human Rights Council and will participate in the Euro-Med activities, with the supervision of our team.

Conditions and qualifications
• The applicant must have a residency permit in an European country or a travel document that enables him/her to travel to Geneva.
• The applicant must be a refugee (given a refugee status from an EU state in which he or she resides or from UNHCR or UNRWA).
• The applicant must be under 30 years of age.
• The applicant must be a specialist in human rights, political science, media or related fields.
• The applicant must have experience in the legal or voluntary work field for a period of not less than six months.
• The applicant must speak at least two of three languages: Arabic, English and French.

How to apply?
Please submit the application by e-mail to Geneva@euromedmonitor.org including the CV and a cover letter (no more than 500 words) by Thursday 10 January 2018.

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