Education and Training Department
Despite hosting over hundreds of thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and Internally Displaced Persons, there is a general lack of understanding regarding forced migrants in Uganda. The majority of persons working with refugees on a daily basis have had little, if any, specialised training on forced migration issues. Consequently there is a need to train police and other local government officials in refugee and human rights law. Likewise, the communities hosting displaced persons are often unaware of the policies and laws affecting those living with them.
The Education and Training Department aims at inculcating knowledge and skills in human rights and refugee law in those involved in the protection of forced migrants so that they are humanely treated. To date, we have trained over 3,000 officials, service providers and other stakeholders in areas of human rights, refugee law, and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
Target groups for the programmes
- Policy makers
- Service providers in humanitarian agencies
- Government departments such as police, immigration, army and prisons
- Judges and magistrates
- Local District and religious leaders in refugee and IDP areas
- Refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs
- Researchers and students
Objective of the programmes
- Equip authorities with knowledge on human rights and refugee law, guiding principles on IDPs and conflict resolution.
- Improve the capacity of government to handle cases of asylum seekers, refugees and IDPs in accordance with international standards and the Constitution of Uganda.
- Identify problems faced by both refugees and government representatives who work with refugees.
- Foster increased networking between police, NGOs and host communities, around refugee issues in the country.
Training topics
- Introduction to forced migration
- International refugee law
- International human rights law and framework
- Refugee law, policy, and practice in Uganda
- Human rights law and constitutionalism in Uganda
- Human rights and law enforcement in Uganda
- The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
- The rights and obligations of refugees/IDPs
- Refugee Status Determination in Uganda
- The roles of government, UNHCR, NGOs, police, and communities in promoting and protecting refugee/IDP rights in Uganda
- Mental health issues of refugees and IDPs inside or outside of camps
- Gender issues among refugees and IDPs in Uganda
- Concepts of refugees, IDPs, unaccompanied minors, inclusion, exclusion, and cessation clauses
Training programmes for host communities
Courses for leaders in communities hosting refugees or IDPs, including district officials, community and religious leaders as well as humanitarian aid organisations.
Courses to enable refugees to know and assert their rights and obligations in Uganda.
Courses for police and immigration officials
A two-week intensive course for immigration officials at key entry points into the country.
A one-week police instructor's training programme—training police officials on refugee law. Police instructors have also been trained to ensure that the knowledge is institutionalised within police force training programmes.
East African School of Refugee and Humanitarian Affairs
RLP is an integral member of the East African School of Refugee and Humanitarian Affairs (EASRHA). EASRHA is an annual summer school programme run by the Centre for Study of Forced Migration, Faculty of Law, University of Dar es Salaam, the RLP, and the Centre for Refugee Studies, Moi University. The two-week residential trainings target East African policy makers and officials responsible for developing and implementing refugee policy and practices from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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