Center Trains Women’s Rights Lawyers in Europe

In November 2008, the second Women’s Human Rights Training Institute completed its third session.  The Center for Reproductive Rights, in partnership with the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation and the Network of East-West Women, organizes the Women’s Human Rights Training Institute. Based in Bulgaria, the institute is a four-part, two-year series of seminars, workshops, and trainings for twenty select lawyers working on women’s rights in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, and the Caucasus. The first institute  was held in 2004-2006.  A second generation of lawyers is now being trained.The goal of the institute is to strengthen participants’ ability to litigate cases concerning women’s human rights.  There is a special focus on violence against women, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and employment discrimination.  To prepare participants to address these issues at the national, regional, and international levels, the institute develops their capacity to analyze cases and frame legal arguments.  It also focuses on cross-border cooperation and professional networking.  Technical workshop sessions cover the European Court of Human Rights, European Court of Justice, and United Nations treaty body mechanisms. Find out more about the Women’s Human Rights Training Institute >