Initiative
Global Strategic Litigation Council for Refugee Rights
Capacity-Building Trainings
The Council regularly runs capacity-building trainings for its members on the basis of their needs. You can request support by completing this form (disponible aquí en español). Please find some of our most recent trainings below:
Integrating Gender, Sexual Diversity and Intersectionality in the Protection of Refugees
In collaboration with Alejandro Gomez from Refugiados Unidos and Meredith McBride from Hong Kong Justice Centre, this workshop explores how integrating gender, sexual diversity, and intersectionality can transform the understanding of refugee protection. Historically, women and LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers have faced significant barriers, but recent legal and policy developments have highlighted the feminization of migration and the impact of gender-based violence as key drivers of forced displacement. Alejandro and Meredith examine evolving legal frameworks and advocacy strategies to strengthen protections for these communities, offering insights into how these advances can drive systemic change.
Utilizing UN Treaty Bodies for Human Rights Litigation
In collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, this training explores how to use the UN human rights treaty bodies’ individual complaints procedures to protect the rights of people on the move, particularly in the context of return and provide an overview of the procedure, showcase relevant jurisprudence, and discuss strategic litigation opportunities to advance the protection of migrants’ rights.
English
Español
International Protection, Disasters and Climate Change Training
In collaboration with the Refugee Law Initiative and led by Professor David Cantor at the University of London Refugee Law Initiative together with Dr. Beatriz Sanchez, this training covers key conceptual and legal aspects of how international protection rules expressed by refugee and human rights law apply to claims relating to disaster contexts and climate change in the applicant’s country of origin.
English
Español
Climiglaw Database Beta Launch – with the Global Strategic Litigation Council, Earth Refuge and RWI
The Council has launched the beta version of the Climate Displacement Database, a free-to-access global database collating and summarizing judicial decisions concerning all forms of internal and cross border climate-related mobility. It is co-developed by the Global Strategic Litigation Council, Earth Refuge, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and the Zolberg Institute for Migration & Mobility.
English
Climate Displacement Database Soft-launch Slides (ENG)
Español
Climate Displacement Database Soft-launch Slides (ESP)
Using the Inter-American Human Rights System
Co-sponsored by the NYU Center for Justice and International Law and Center for Human Rights and Global Justice and the Hemispheric Network for Haitian Migrants’ Rights, this training is facilitated by Silvia Serna Román and Gabriela Oviedo Perhavec. The training covers filing petitions, managing cases, and understanding provisional and precautionary measures, as well as advisory opinions in the Inter-American System of Human Rights.
English
Español
Kreyol
In-depth Analysis of Inter-American Court of Human Rights Law
This training facilitated by Gabriela Oviedo and Silvia Serna at the Council provides an in-depth discussion of the INter-American Court of Human Rights’ case law. It covers important rulings related to mobility and asylum; an exploration of the Court’s stance on key legal principles; and the Court’s impact on migrants and refugees.
English
Español
Proceedings Before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Co-sponsored by the Central & Latin America regional networks of the Council, this training by Helen Kerwin and Gabriela Oviedo at CEJIL, provides an overview of bringing proceedings before the Inter-American System.
English
Español
Good Practices & Strategic Opportunities: Using African Human Rights Mechanisms
Co-sponsored by the Africa regional network of the Council, this training by Michael Nyarko at the Litigation & Implementation Unit, Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria provides an overview of the nature of submissions that can be made to international and regional human rights mechanisms, with particular focus on African human rights bodies.
View the training slides here.
The Externalization of Asylum
Co-sponsored by the Council’s Working Group on Legal Status & Lawful Stay, this training by David Cantor at the Refugee Law Initiative provides an overview on the externalization of asylum and how to challenge externalization policies.
Communications Training: Messaging and Media Engagement
Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications firm West End Strategy Team’s partner Samantha Kupferman and former partner Meredith MacKenzie de Silva facilitated a training providing advice and tips on messaging and media engagement as part of legal work to advance refugee and migrant rights.