University of New South Wales - The Initiative for Health and Human Rights

Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights (PHCM 9663/4)

In the new millennium, public policy and health and human development programs are evolving in a context of mixed opportunities and challenges. These are associated with persisting and emerging issues, including: HIV/AIDS, economic globalisation, conflicts and natural disasters, widening health disparities among populations, Indigenous health gaps, ageing, emerging epidemics, climate change and the widespread movements of people through labour and forced migration. In this fast-changing environment, health inequalities are becoming more apparent. To address these challenges, the UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights is committed to building capacity in the fields of Health, Development and Human Rights in Australia, the Asia-Pacific Region and globally.
As the interactions between health, development and human rights are becoming increasingly clear, there is growing recognition that their reciprocal relationships can help shape health and development policies, strategies and programs for the future. This evolution calls for reinforced education, training and research efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define underlying principles and prominent approaches applied to each of the fields of health, development and human rights;
Describe the reciprocal interaction between health, development and human rights and how these linkages can be analysed and applied in practice in one or more selected areas pertinent to participants interests;
Illustrate how international mechanisms and procedures can be applied to health, development and human rights and how they can be accessed;
Identify key actions and research that is needed to further the synergy between health, development and human rights.

COURSE FACULTY

The Course Director is Professor Daniel Tarantola, Professor of Health and Human Rights at the University of New South Wales. In previous courses, the course faculty has been composed of academics from the UNSW Faculties of Medicine, Law, and Arts & Social Science and other leading figures from other universities and institutions with expertise in the area of health, development and/or human rights. Cross-institutional contributions have come from Human Rights Council of Australia, the University of Sydney, Disability Studies and Research Centre, and St. Vincent’s Hospital. Notably, Professor Sofia Gruskin, Director of the Program on International Health and Human Rights at Harvard School of Public Health (USA), has joined the course faculty for the previous two years. Most recently, A/Prof. Gruskin received a Fulbright US Senior Specialist Fellowship to contribute to the 2008 course.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Those working internationally or locally in the health, development or human rights sectors who want to better understand how these three domains act synergistically together, as well as how to apply rights-based approaches to their fields, should consider registering for this course. Our course participants represent a diverse range of professional backgrounds, including youth work, law, social research, international development, public health, UN policy development, HIV/AIDS program management, general medical practice, architecture and indigenous policy. Our course is particularly suited to staff from the United Nations, inter-governmental and other non-governmental agencies. Fluency in the English language is required.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Initiative for Health and Human Rights is not in a position to provide scholarships for participants to attend this course. However, limited information on potential external sources of funding is included in this info document (pdf). Please be aware that the organisations' websites listed in this document are of a general nature, some may be more relevant for those in specific regions (such as the Asia-Pacific) or countries (Australian residents). Although scholarships at the University of New South Wales do not necessarily target those seeking funding support for intensive courses, it may be useful to check the following site for some possible options www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au and www.grs.unsw.edu.au/scholarships/internationalschols.html. Please remember many sources of funding support will have deadlines more than six months in advance of this course, including travel dates. Please consider seeking advice from your employer regarding professional development schemes or representatives from local, national or international organisations in your own country, as these contacts are often the most useful for securing scholarship funding. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way when applying for various scholarships (i.e. letter of support).

CONTACT US

Further enquiries regarding the course can be directed to the IHHR.

T: +61 (2) 9385 1071

E: ihhr@unsw.edu.au

Please keep in touch by regularly visiting this website or email us to get regular IHHR updates.

2009 Course

3rd International Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights

The UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights has tentatively scheduled the 3rd International Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights from 7 - 11 December 2009 at the Kensington campus of the University of New South Wales.

Sign up for our newsletter for further updates and check out our website for additional information.

Previous Courses

2008

The UNSW IHHR hosted its 2nd International Intensive Course on Health, Development and Human Rights from 8 - 12 December 2008 for both professional and UNSW student participants. This successful course was created and taught by the multi-faculty IHHR, which derives its members from the Faculties of Medicine, Arts and Social Sciences and Law and included pre-eminent international speakers such as Prof. Sofia Gruskin, Harvard School of Public Health. The course established the key concepts and frameworks of the three domains of health, development and human rights, before exploring the reciprocal links between the three fields and developing this understanding through practical case studies in daily workshops. More information about the outcomes of this course, including a report is forthcoming.

2007

The UNSW IHHR hosted the inaugural International Intensive Course on Health Development and Human Rights from 16-20 July 2007. A course report describing the key successes and achievements of this course is available for those considering enrolment in an upcoming course. Comments from a range of participants have also been included to provide some insight into the learning outcomes achieved and the course's relevance for those looking to use rights-based approaches in their specific fields.

Comments from a range of participants have also been included, to provide some insight into the learning outcomes achieved and the course's relevance for those looking to use rights-based approaches in their specific fields.

Some of the key presentations from guest speakers at the Opening Session of the 2007 course are now available on the web. Mr. Tom Calma, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has kindly made his speech on 'The Right to Health of Indigenous Australians' available on the following website: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/speeches

Reference to Prof. Sue Kippax, the former Director of the National Centre for HIV Social Research, speech, 'Reflections of a Social Scientist doing HIV Social Research' is available at the Centre's website: http://nchsr.arts.unsw.edu.au

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