Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation
Please note that our student housing for the 2022 Lucerne Academy session is fully booked, participation in the programme is only possible with independent organization of accommodation!
The Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation is a worldwide 2-week programme of coursework and hands-on learning for law students and legal practitioners held in the heart of Europe at the University of Lucerne, Faculty of Law, in Switzerland, in partnership with several distinguished international law schools. The main topic of this year’s Summer School is “Business and Human Rights”.
Participants are given the chance to learn the theoretical and trial skills necessary to prepare for a career in defending human rights. Students will not only learn about the field of human rights, but also about how to incorporate that knowledge into the actual work of defending human rights. Special focus will be placed on advocacy skills such as case assessment and oral argumentation.
Courses: Students will be given a choice of coursework on a variety of topics related to human rights on progressive and traditional issues under both the European Convention of Human Rights and the UN Conventions. The participants attend different classes focused exclusively on human rights law of the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Covenants on Human Rights, in which they gain necessary theoretical knowledge. The classes are taught by distinguished professors and practitioners from around the globe.
Lunch Seminars: During Lunch Seminars the participants have the chance to learn from distinguished practitioners how to work with and implement human rights. The students will receive first-hand knowledge of current human rights issues and discuss possible solutions.
Excursions: In addition, the summer school includes two excursions. In Geneva, the participants will visit the European Headquarters of the United Nations, as well as various NGOs. In Strasbourg the participants will visit the seat of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. During the excursions, the participants interact with important NGO’s and officials and acquire insight into the practice of human rights implementation.
Participants can earn seven (7) ECTS credits for the successful completion of the courses and lunch seminars. There will be written exams at the end of the course. All successful participants will be awarded Certificates of Completion.
If you are interested in participating please do not hesitate to contact Diana Graf.
On the following website you will also find information about our summer school: www.summerschoolsineurope.eu
Week 1
Week 2
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Heselhaus, University of Lucerne: Recent Issues of the ECtHR
Prof. Dr. Christina Binder, Universität der Bundeswehr München: Implementation in the Inter-American system of Human Rights protection
Prof. Dr. Olivier De Schutter, University of Louvain (UCL) und College of Europe: The Role of Human Rights in the Fight against Poverty
Prof. Dr. Tyler Giannini, Harvard Law School: Community-Centric Approaches to Business and Human Rights
Prof. Dr. Markus Krajewski, Firiedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU): Business and Human Rights
Prof. Dr. Felipe Gomez Isa, University of Deusto: Rights of Indigenous People
Director Professor Dr. iur. Sebastian Heselhaus, M.A.
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Heselhaus is a specialist in Human Rights Law. He is co-editor of one of the first commentaries on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. He teaches Comparative Human Rights Law and is supervisor of prominent moot courts such as the René Cassin Moot Court on the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Law Moot Court. Further fields of expertise of Prof. Heselhaus are Environmental Law and Energy Law. He is co-founder and Managing Director of the Center for Law and Sustainability at the University of Lucerne and Task Coordinator in the Swiss Competence Center on Energy Research (SCCER) CREST. Prof. Heselhaus has taught various courses in the UK, the USA and Lithuania. In October 2015 Prof. Heselhaus was appointed a Director of the Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation. In the Lucerne Academy he will be teaching an introductory class on human rights protection comparing major international human rights treaties.
Associate Director Mag. iur. Diana Graf
Diana Graf studied law at University of Vienna in Austria and at University of Lucerne in Switzerland. During her exchange semester at University of Lucerne she focused on Human Rights Law, European Law and European Business Law. During her studies, she worked at a law firm in Vaduz in the Principality of Liechtenstein and at a Swiss district court in the Canton of Thurgau. After obtaining her Master's degree, Diana worked as a Corporate Tax Consultant on a Swiss as well as international level at a "Big Four"-company in the Canton of Zug in Switzerland. Diana is not only interested in cross-border areas of law, but also in the resulting challenges in the concrete application of the law, for example in the areas of International Law, European Law and Human Rights Law.
Application Requirements
Law students and law practitioners can apply to the Lucerne Academy.
Applicants must generally satisfy the following requirements:
- You must either be a practitioner or a law student.
- International human rights law experience is required (academic or in the field). Waiver is possible.
- Good command of English. The Lucerne Academy is conducted in English and students are required to actively participate, both orally and in writing.
For questions concerning admission, please contact lucerne-academy@unilu.ch .
Tuition Fees
The Lucerne Academy fee includes:
- Welcome Reception
- Introduction class (mandatory)
- Choose 3 classes out of 5 available subjects
- Excursion to Geneva (travel expenses, all tour, entrance fees)
- Excursion to Strasbourg (travel expenses, all tour, entrance fees)
- 8 lunch seminars
- Lunch during lunch seminars
- Lavish Closing Ceremony Dinner
Tuition fee: CHF 1'200
For all students the fee for accommodation is CHF 400.
We do offer a small number of merit based scholarships for students from developing countries or students who can show financial hardship. If you are interested, please inquire by e-mail: lucerne-academy@unilu.ch
Housing
Please note that our student housing for the 2022 Lucerne Academy session is fully booked, participation in the programme is only possible with independent organization of accommodation!
For participants who need housing in Lucerne to attend the program, we will offer moderately priced accommodation (generally the same as what is offered to incoming students for exchange semesters) for the duration of the program. The accomodation provided will be a 10 minute ride to school by public transport and will come this year exceptionally at a cost of CHF 400.
Housing will only be provided starting the day before the program begins until the day after its conclusion.
Although it is ultimately the responsibility of the students to find housing, we will provide a limited number of rooms, which will be allocated at a first come, first served basis.
If you wish to apply, please fill in the housing application form and send it to lucerne-academy@unilu.ch.
If you have questions regarding the accommodation, please contact us lucerne-academy@unilu.ch.
Apply here!
The application process is open until May 31, 2022. Apply now!
In a second step of your application you will be asked to send in your:
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- CV (max. 2 pages)
- (optional: for students wishing to apply for Housing: the completed housing application form)
Associate Director of the Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation
T +41 41 229 54 70
diana.graf@unilu.ch
Frohburgstrasse 3, Room 4.A56
lucerne-academy@unilu.ch
