A new online education program will be developed to meet the specific training needs of staff of APF member institutions, with the first 10-week course expected to begin in September 2009.

The online courses, to be delivered in partnership with Human Rights Education Associates (HREA), will complement the APF’s existing training programs and provide a ‘blended’ learning experience for participants.

“Providing courses online allows participants to explore core human rights concepts in detail over an extended period of time before they take part in our face-to-face training workshops,” said Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director of the APF Secretariat.

“We also hope to create an ‘online community’ of skilled staff members who can share their knowledge and skills with others once the courses and workshops have concluded.”

As part of the program, HREA will develop two 10-week pilot courses:

• Foundation course for staff of national human rights institutions, to be delivered from September 2009
• International human rights system, to be delivered from February 2010.

Up to 30 people will be able to participate in each course, with invitations for the first pilot course to be extended to APF member institutions in July.

“The APF is delighted to have established this partnership with Human Rights Education Associates,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.

“They have long-standing experience in developing and delivering successful online training programs that build knowledge and skills of people working to promote and protect human rights.”

Established in 1996, HREA initiated its Distance Learning Programme in 2000 in response to increasing demand from human rights defenders who required flexible and cost-effective training.

Since then HREA has delivered 85 distance learning courses to more than 1,700 human rights defenders and educators.

The APF currently provides face-to-face training programs in the following core areas of work of member institutions: investigations techniques; national inquiries; media and communications; prevention of torture; international human rights system; and human rights defenders.