Organization of American States Department of<br />Human Development
XXXVIII Curso de Derecho Internacional: Derecho Internacional y Democracia / XXXVIII Course of International Law: International Law and Democracy

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XXXVIII Course of International Law: “International Law and Democracy”

 

                                                                                                                                                                                           OAS/DHDEC/CIR.237/2010

 

1. Venue: Hotel Everest Rio Convention Center, Rua Prudente de Moraes 1117, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.

2. Coordination: Department of International Law of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the Organization of American States.

3. Type of course:                 Face-to-face

4. Dates:                                From August 1 to 19, 2011

5. Duration of the course:     Three (3) weeks

6. Languages:                        Spanish and English

7. Objective: Study, discussion, and updating of public and private international law issues, with special emphasis on the general subject matter dealt with in the Course.

8. Program: The Course program is drawn up by the Inter-American Juridical Committee and the Department of International Law of the OAS Secretariat for Legal Affairs. The leitmotif of the Course this year will be “International Law and Democracy.” There will be two classes in the mornings, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and one class in the afternoons, between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

9. Certificates: A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those pupils who attend at least 90 percent of the classes and pass two exams held over the three weeks of the Course. Each participant may submit one paper on one of the topics discussed during the Course, within four months of the end of the Course, after first submitting a hypothesis and work plan by a deadline established by the Coordinator. If the final version of the paper is satisfactory, the student will receive a Pass Certificate.

10. Requirements:

  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of an OAS member state *. (Residents must send in a copy of their visa);
  • Have a professional title/degree in law or international relations; Candidates must present a copy of their professional degree and certification of the subjects studied, with the grades obtained for each;
  • Have had professional experience in the field of international law and international relations;
  • Not be older than 40 years of age;
  • Be proposed by a government agency, an institute of higher education, or a public or private institution directly concerned with international law and international relations that must provide assurances that it will use the services of the scholarship recipient upon her or his return;
  • Have a good command of Spanish and English;
  • Be physically able to meet the obligations of the Course;
  • Submit a properly completed application before the deadline set by the corresponding National Liaison Office (ONE) [1] It is the candidate’s responsibility to ascertain the deadline set by the ONE in his or her country of residence.

11. Criteria governing the award of OAS scholarships: Pursuant to Article 4.2 of the Manual of Procedures for Scholarships and Training Programs, OAS scholarships shall be granted on the basis of the following criteria:

  • The objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development
  • The training priorities of the member states;
  • The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background,
  • The financial need of the candidate; and
  • An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all member states that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.

12. Benefits:

  • The OAS provides roundtrip economy air fare from the scholarship-holder’s place of residence and Río de Janeiro. Funds are not provided to cover terminal and transit expenses.
  • Health and accident insurance for the duration of the Course. It is important to note that this insurance provides for reimbursement of expenses incurred.
  • A subsistence payment of US$650.00.
  • If a candidate residing in the metropolitan area of Río de Janeiro is selected, he or she shall not receive the subsistence payment.
  • Those selected for scholarships will be informed of lodgings frequently used by other awardees in the past, and of the names of other scholarship-holders of their nationality in case they wish to share accommodation.

13. Responsibility of the Selected Candidates:

  • Following selection, candidates must notify the OAS (Department of Human Development, Education, and Culture) of their willingness to make use of the scholarship during the period indicated, so that the OAS can make the necessary arrangements for the purchase of the coach-class return ticket between the country of origin and the Course venue.
  • Date of arrival in Río de Janeiro: It is the responsibility of the selected candidate to arrive at the Course venue in good time to attend the inauguration of the Course on the date set by the Institution offering the Course.
  • If a selected candidate accepts the scholarship but later, for compelling reasons, cannot take it up, she or he must immediately notify the Department of Economic Development, Trade, and Tourism and the Department of Human Development, Education, and Culture, so that this office can decide what steps to take and make the necessary arrangements.
  • It will be incumbent upon each awardee to do what is necessary to obtain in good time the visa(s) she or he will require to enter Brazil and any transit country (if applicable). The OAS will not defray any immigration or visa-related expenses.
  • The candidates selected must formally accept the Professional Development Scholarship by completing and signing the “Scholarship Acceptance Form” that the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture will send them soon after their selection. Only when the DHDEC has received that duly signed form will it proceed to arrange for the purchase of the coach-class return air ticket between the country of origin and/or residence and the Course venue.
  • If a selected candidate declines the scholarship after the air ticket has been bought without due authorization by the Department of Human Development, Education, and Culture, or does not travel on the dates established, or changes route, he or she shall be responsible for defraying the cost of the air fare and for any further cost incurred.
  • If a selected candidate does not travel on the dates established or changes route after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has bought the ticket, the candidate shall be responsible for paying any difference in the air fare needed to arrive in time for the start of the Course.
  • A selected candidate shall reimburse the total cost of the return ticket from his or her country of residence to country where the Course is held if, after the ticket has been purchased, he or she declines the scholarship without due authorization in writing from the OAS Department of Human Development, Education, and Culture. This shall include any additional expenditure incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra accommodation expense during travel by the scholarship-holder from his or her country of origin to the Country in which the Course is held.
  • Cost of subsistence: It is estimated that the total subsistence cost for each scholarship-holder in Río de Janeiro is approximately US$3,000.00 (calculation as of November 30, 2010). Each participant will be required to defray out of his or her own funds the balance of approximately US$2,350.00. (These figures may change by August 2011.)
  • Visas: It will be incumbent upon each awardee to do what is necessary to obtain in good time the visa(s) she or he will require to enter Brazil and any transit country (if applicable). The OAS will not defray any immigration or visa-related expenses.

15. Submission of candidacies:

Notice: If you have benefited from a Professional Development Program Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months, or if you are currently receiving an Academic Studies Scholarship, you are not eligible to apply for another Professional Development Program scholarship.

The on-line Scholarship Application Form must be completed on the Internet. It can be found on the OAS website through the following link: http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/oasbecas/presencial.aspx?culture=es&navid=281 . Under Professional Development Scholarships Program, face-to-face courses, click on the course you are interested in applying to. When it opens, go to the bottom of the page, where you will find the “Continue” prompt, which will open up the official on-line application form.

All other forms need to be completed electronically or using a typewriter.

Once an applicant has filled in and sent the on-line application, he or she will automatically receive a copy of the complete form in his or her e-mail. This completed form must be printed, signed, and submitted, along with the other scholarship forms (which can be accessed at: http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/oasbecas/formapd.aspx?culture=es&navid=281), and the required documentation, to the National Liaison Offices, which are the official channels established by the Government of each country. This is a mandatory requirement.

Following is the list of the National Liaison offices (ONEs) in the OAS member states:  http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=es&navid=281

If you encounter any problems with completing or transmitting your application, please send an e-mail to: [email protected]

 

*On June 3, 2009, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas adopted resolution AG/RES. 2438 (XXXIX-O/09), which resolves that the 1962 Resolution that excluded the Government of Cuba from its participation in the inter-American system, ceases to have effect in the Organization of American States (OAS). The 2009 resolution states that the participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes, and principles of the OAS.

*On July 5, 2009, the Organization of American States (OAS) invoked Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, suspending Honduras from active participation in the hemispheric body. The unanimous decision was adopted as a result of the June 28 coup d’état that expelled President José Manuel Zelaya from office. Diplomatic initiatives are ongoing to foster the restoration of democracy to Honduras.

 

[1] The deadline for submission of applications to the ONE differs from country to country and should therefore be confirmed with the relevant ONE in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CORRESPONDING FUNDS IN THE REGULAR BUDGET FOR 2011

 


 

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