SPRING SCHOOL ON “HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIROMENT” FOR LAW STUDENTS FROM THE CENTRAL ASIA REGION
On 14-18 May 2024, the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, organised a Spring school on human rights and environment for law students from the Central Asia region, attended by 41 law. They come from 14 different law faculties in the five countries of the region - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The objective of the Spring school was to familiarise these students with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on environment and climate change and provide them with a comprehensive overview of the global developments in the field and of international legal instruments applicable in their countries.
Over five days, the students received first-hand information from European and international experts, including a judge of the European Court of Human Rights, who gave lectures and engaged the participants in interactive discussions and practical workshops.
The first day began with opening ceremony in which made a speech Mr Igor Rogov, Head of the Human Rights Commission under the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (online), Mr. Kestutis Jankauskas, Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan (online), Mr Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Mr Tilep Bolat, Rector, Abay Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Mr Omirali Zhalairi, Rector, Kunayev University, Mr Sergey Dikman, Adviser on Strategic Co-operation Development, Human Rights Directorate, Council of Europe, Ms Krystyna Khokhlova, Project co-ordinator, Cooperation Programmes Division of the Council of Europe.
After the opening ceremony the programme of the school was introduced, where Ms Eva Massa, International Legal trainer, Council of Europe consultant and Professor Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Associate Dean of the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, Council of Europe consultant explained. Introduction to environment and human rights was introduced by Ms Małgorzata Kwiędacz-Palosz, Senior lawyer on fundamental rights, Council of Europe consultant were also introduced, and Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights Professor Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Mr Sergey Dikman.
On the second day, Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights – practical exercise Professor Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou , Mr Sergey Dikman and about international human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment by Mr Igor Gryshko were introduced Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms Eva Massa. After that law students worked on the Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights – access to information in environmental cases and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Respect for private life and Environmental harm with Ms Małgorzata Kwiędacz-Palosz, Professor Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Ms Eva Massa where gave opportunity to the students put their knowledge into practice.
On the third day, students practiced on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Respect for private life and Environmental harm with Professor Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Ms Eva Massa and about Environment and Human Rights in Central Asia with Mr Vadim Ni, Chair of the Socio-Ecological Fund Board, Council of Europe consultant Mr Dmitry Nurumov, PhD, Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC), Senior Legal Advisor, Kazakhstan, Council of Europe consultant. At the end of the day student had a lecture on the topic about advocacy.
The fourth day practical skills workshop was conducted in the following structure brief oral presentations from participants with Ms Eva Massa. In practical skills students presented the topic that they have chosen in 5 minutes where all the participants found and gained a lot of information from each others about education, experiences, history, cultural and etc. then was lecture about legal argumentation. Students had a chance to get a lecture from Mr Mārtiņš Mits, Judge of the European Court of human rights, elected in respect of Latvia. Mr Mārtiņš Mits delivered lecture about “Role of the European Court of human rights in addressing emerging challenges to human rights and the rule of law”. At the end of the day was preparation to the Moot court.
On the last day of the school, the participants had the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice in a simulated court hearing. At the end of the moot court all the experts, speakers and organizations made a speech and students received certificates of participation issued by the Council of Europe.
At the end of my article I would like to express my sincerely gratitude to the organizers of this spring school and to our Hero Arkadag and our esteemed President for their tireless care of young people and state activities at the further development of the national education systems.
Amanbagt USSAYEVA,
The 4th year student of the Faculty of the International Law of the
Institute of International Relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.