Project of Helsinki España for the Reinforcement of the Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation Teams (REACT) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Training of Experts in Rapid Co-operation and Assistance for Conflict Prevention Operations, Crisis Management and Post-conflict Rehabilitation.

(last updated: january, 3. 2004)

2004

EXPERT COURSES

"Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation for Conflict Prevention Operations, Crisis Management and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation"

OBJECTIVE:

Helsinki España realized that there is a need for rapid training of experts for international missions and therefore organised in 2003 a first intensive training with a very practical orientation, based on the project REACT (Rapid Experts and Co-operation Teams) of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe). Due to the good results of this first experience, it has decided to prepare for the second year postgraduate students for integration in international missions of the OSCE, EU, UN and other international organizations.

ACTIONS IN 2004:

To achieve the objectives named above, the following measures will be taken:

1. Offering the second and third Expert Course in "Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation in Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management and Post-conflict Rehabilitation", dedicated to the training of volunteers from different countries, creating experts for missions of the OSCE and other international organizations.

2. Creating, coordinating and continuously updating a database of Experts in International Missions, junior and senior ex-students of these courses, who are committed and prepared to depart for a quick response in Conflict Prevention Operations, Crisis Management and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation.

3. Serving as a nexus between governments of the different OSCE States, other international organizations and interested experts.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSES IN 2004:

General Contents of the Course: Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties, Democratization and Rule of Law, Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Crisis management and Fieldwork Techniques.

Dates and Places of the II and III Course:

- Dates of the II and III Course: 1st till 31th of May 2004 and 1st till 31th of October 2004, respectively.
Location of the II and III Course: Madrid (to determine) and Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander (one week of each course), Spain.

Duration of the Expert Training: Intensive Course of 200 hours.

Students Requisites: Graduates, engineers or arquitects with a minimum age of 24 years

Number of students per course: 35

Language of the Courses: The Courses will be offered in English due to the international character of the students.

Teaching Staff of the Courses: The Courses will be given by university teachers of different countries, experts in the thematic contents of the course, trainers of the OSCE and UN, diplomats and civil servants of the Spanish Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior, Red Cross and international experts in missions of different international organizations.

Methodology: The course combines theory and practice through debates, conferences, round tables, working groups, seminars, case studies and simulations. .

Price of the course: € 4.700

Diploma: by the Complutense University of Madrid

CONTENTS:

The main objectives of this Expert Course are

- To offer essential information on international organisations
- To transmit a deeper understanding of the practical issues that arise when dealing with conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation
- To obtain an advanced know-how in order to integrate, if possible inmediately, in the planning, executing or monitoring cells of the different international OSCE missions and other institutions.

MODULE I. NOTIONS AND INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS

- Specialized Letters and Agreements.
- National and International Institutes on Human Rights Defence.
- Human Rights in the world today.
- Human Rights in the frame of Peace Operations
- Monitoring human rights and administering justice in peace missions.

MODULE II. INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT

- Causes of current conflicts and control mechanisms.
- Global terrorism.
- Governability and Democratization.
- Democratization processes. Common problems in societies in transition.
- Analysis and Conflict Prevention.
- Aspects of multinational and multicultural integration in international missions.
-Crisis management in different national and international organisations, both governmental and non-governmental.
- Natural resources and corruption
- Peace Construction.
- International Humanitarian Law

- Civil protection and the environment in crisis management operations.
- Principle of proportionality and collateral damage.
- Combatant subjects and war prisoners.
- Protection of injured, sick and shipwrecked people. Humanitarian aid organisations.
- Child protection in armed conflicts. Child soldiers.
- Protection of refugees and displaced persons.
- Prohibition of anti-personnel mines. The Ottawa Treaty.
- Protection of women in armed conflicts.

 

MODULE III: INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. CURRENT CONFLICT PREVENTION ACTIONS, CRISIS -MANAGEMENT AND POST-CONFLICT REHABILITATION

The United Nations and Peace Operations: History, evolution, prospective and current vision of the UN Peace Operations:

- General legal aspects in Peacekeeping Operations.
- Practical aspects of the functioning of Peacekeeping Operations.

NATO. New Strategic concept.
European Union

- Foreign Policy and Common Security.

· Petersberg Missions.
· Defence and Peacekeeping.

- The European Agency of Reconstruction and the Satelite Centre of the European Union.

OSCE.

- History, evolution and current vision.
- OSCE Field activities. REACT Project.

European Council.
OAS.
League of Arab States
Union of African States
NGO ´S.

MODULE IV: MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVENTION IN CONFLICT PREVENTION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND POST-CONFLICT REHABILITATION

Military forces. Participation in general missions.
Police intervention. Security zones.
Diplomacy and international political action.
International Criminal Justice. "Ad hoc" tribunals. Truthcommissions.
International Criminal Court: Creation and Operation.
Justice in Transition Processes.
Vision of the tasks and activities of the different components: Case Study. The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

MODULE V: TYPOLOGY OF CONFLICTS ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHIC AREAS. CASE STUDIES.

Caucasus and Central Asia.
- Afghanistan
- Chechnya
- Petrol
The Balkans other Countries in Transition.
Latin America.
- Colombia
- Internal revolts
- Post-conflict countries
Africa
- Occidental Africa: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast
- First African World War
Near-East and Mediterranean Area.
- The Arab-Israeli conflict
- Iraq
Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Philippines
- Taiwan
- China - USA

MODULE VI. NEGOTIATING AND PUBLIC INFORMATION TECHNIQUES

The use of negotiating and public information techniques.
Environment, dynamics and negotiating conditions: violent conflicts, external and internal pressures and actual powers.
Arbitration and mediation: Intervention of third parties.
Personal styles of conflict management.
Consensus.
Ethical negotiating aspects.
Relations with authorities: Locals and Interpreters.
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MODULE VII: FIELDWORK TECHNIQUES. ESSENTIAL ISSUES FOR PERSONNEL IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS.

Elaboration and presentation of reports.
Project-management.
Communication Systems.
Health and Security Issues.
Stressmanagement.
Mine awareness. Practice on a minefield.
Four- wheel driving. Practice on a prepared field.
Mapreading.
First Aid.
Personal safety. Smooth flow of information and co-ordination. Knowledge difference between weapons and Residuum war explosives.

FUTURE ACTIONS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEER EXPERTS:

1. People from OSCE participating states, 25 to 30 years old, may be able to do a field practice between 2 and 6 months both in OSCE Missions as in the Secretariat. Cover expenses can be applied by the candidates.
http://www.osce.org/employment/internships_n.php3
2. People from OSCE participating state , who are 26 years and over, that have 2 years of relevant professional experience, may be able to get a job placement in the OSCE Missions, either Seconded Positions (nominated by an OSCE participating State) or Contract Positions (contracted and offered by the OSCE). www.osce.org/react/
3. People from all nationalities can apply either as volunteers for an internship or for a contracted position in the missions of the European Union and the United Nations.

Note: The OSCE does not guarantee work experience nor job placement within their organization on completion of this course.

PARTICIPANTS AND/ OR COLLABORATORS OF THE COURSES OF 2004 (to confirm)

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
United Nations.
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Spanish Ministry of Defence.
Spanish Ministry of Interior.
City Council of Santander (Cantabria) Spain.
Autonomous Region of Cantabria. Spain.
US Embassy.
Dutch Embassy.
Red Cross.
Companies and Institutes.
NGO´s

Organización: Helsinki España – Dimensión Humana
Tlf: 91 533 54 55
Correo electrónico: mjaen@humandimension.com
Dirección: Ríos Rosas 44 A 28003 Madrid