The International Winter Course on Human Rights 2026, organized by the International Human Rights Academy Canada (iHRAC), focuses on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: Human Rights in Forced Displacement. As conflicts, persecution, and climate change continue to uproot millions globally, the protection of displaced persons-refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and climate migrants-has become a critical human rights priority.
This intensive two-week hybrid program offers an in-depth exploration of the legal, ethical, and policy frameworks surrounding forced displacement. Participants will study the intersection of international refugee law, human rights law, and humanitarian law, while analyzing real-world challenges such as access to asylum, state responsibilities, specific vulnerabilities (e.g., gender, disability), and long-term solutions like integration and resettlement.
Through a mix of expert-led lectures, interactive workshops, and field-informed case studies, this course builds the practical knowledge and advocacy skills needed to protect the rights of uprooted individuals. Participants will leave empowered to work at the frontline of displacement justice-whether in legal aid, policy reform, or grassroots human rights defense. The program is ideal for students, professionals, and activists committed to safeguarding human dignity in displacement contexts.
International Winter Course on Human Rights 2026
Theme: Human Rights in Forced Displacement
Organizer: International Human Rights Academy Canada (IHRAC)
Format: Hybrid (Online + In-Person)
Location: Sherman Campus, Toronto, ON
Dates: January 19 – January 30, 2026
Key Topics:
Definition of a refugee: 1951 Refugee Convention & 1967 Protocol
Non-refoulement principle (Article 33 of the 1951 Convention)
Historical development of refugee protection
Role of UNHCR and international agencies
Refugee status determination procedures
Statelessness and legal identity
Learning Outcome:
Participants will be able to interpret the scope and limitations of refugee law and understand how it applies in various geopolitical contexts.
Key Topics:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and core human rights treaties (ICCPR, ICESCR, CAT, CRC, CEDAW)
Rights of refugees and asylum seekers under human rights law
Intersectionality: gender, race, and displacement
Limitations of rights and state responsibilities
Regional human rights systems (Inter-American, African, European)
Human rights defenders in displacement contexts
Learning Outcome:
Participants will be equipped to advocate for displaced persons’ rights within national, regional, and international human rights frameworks.
Objective: To analyze the application of IHL in armed conflicts leading to displacement.
Key Topics:
Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
Protection of civilians and displaced persons during armed conflict
IHL vs. Human Rights Law: complementarity and distinctions
The role of the ICRC
Safe zones, evacuation, and humanitarian corridors
Accountability for violations (war crimes, crimes against humanity)
Learning Outcome:
Participants will gain a clear understanding of legal protections in conflict situations and how IHL addresses displacement-related crises.
Objective: To examine asylum frameworks, procedural safeguards, and challenges in refugee status determinations.
Key Topics:
National asylum laws and systems (Canada, EU, USA, others)
Legal procedures for asylum claims
Interview processes and burden of proof
Detention and deportation: legality and alternatives
Procedural safeguards and appeal mechanisms
Access to legal representation and interpretation
Learning Outcome:
Participants will understand how to navigate and critique asylum systems and support refugees in the process.
Objective: To understand the legal, social, and humanitarian challenges of internal displacement.
Key Topics:
Difference between refugees and IDPs
UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
Protection of IDPs in conflict and disaster settings
State obligations and humanitarian responses
Challenges in return, resettlement, and reintegration
Role of NGOs and civil society in IDP protection
Learning Outcome:
Participants will be equipped to advocate for IDP protection and understand frameworks specific to internal displacement.
Objective: To explore how displacement impacts vulnerable groups and how protection mechanisms respond.
Key Topics:
Women and girls in displacement: risks of GBV, reproductive rights
Children in displacement: education, trafficking, child soldiers
LGBTQ+ rights in refugee settings
Persons with disabilities in camps and host communities
Elderly and unaccompanied minors
Best practices for inclusive protection
Learning Outcome:
Participants will understand how displacement intersects with vulnerability and how to develop inclusive, responsive interventions
Objective: To examine the relationship between environmental crises and forced migration.
Key Topics:
Climate-induced displacement and "climate refugees"
Legal gaps and recognition challenges
Case studies (e.g., Pacific Islands, Sahel, Bangladesh)
Climate justice and international responsibilities
Role of UNFCCC and Global Compact for Migration
Adaptation, relocation, and resilience frameworks
Learning Outcome:
Participants will understand how climate change contributes to migration and explore legal and policy solutions.
Objective: To explore sustainable solutions for displaced persons and pathways to integration.
Key Topics:
The three durable solutions: voluntary repatriation, local integration, resettlement
Challenges in achieving durable solutions
Socioeconomic integration and access to services
Community-based approaches and inclusion policies
Role of host countries and international organizations
Refugee-led initiatives and leadership
Learning Outcome:
Participants will analyze pathways for sustainable resolution and community inclusion for displaced populations.
Objective: To build practical skills in monitoring rights violations and advocating for refugee protection.
Key Topics:
Human rights monitoring tools and indicators
Documentation of abuses and testimonies
Digital security and ethical data handling
Strategic litigation and legal mobilization
Advocacy campaigns and media engagement
Role of civil society and coalitions
Learning Outcome:
Participants will develop concrete tools for documentation, campaigning, and rights-based advocacy in forced displacement contexts.
Final-year undergraduates and graduates in:
Law
Political Science
Social Work
International Relations
Social Justice or Development
Humanities
Social Science disciplines
Early-career professionals:
Lawyers, Judges, Advocates
Human Rights Defenders
NGO Workers
Researchers & Journalists
Applicants with a strong commitment to human rights advocacy.
Scholarship Application: iHRAC is dedicated to inclusivity. We offer highly competitive scholarships, covering up to 100% of the tuition fee, to ensure that financial limitations do not prevent talented individuals from participating. These scholarships are awarded to candidates who demonstrate:
Exceptional academic performance
Strong commitment to human rights advocacy
Scholarship Application Includes:
Statement (500–1000 words) explaining:
Motivation
Human rights work
Financial situation
Course Duration: January 19 – January 30, 2026 (2 Weeks)
Application Window: July 25 – August 20, 2025
Format: Hybrid (Online + In-Person)
In-Person Venue: Sherman Campus, 4600 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M2R 3V2, Canada
Program Fee: CAD 796
Applicants must complete via the Application Link on the Website
Required documents:
Detailed CV or Resume
Passport Copy
Statement of Purpose (500–750 words)
Academic Transcripts (last completed degree)
Reference Letter (academic or professional)
Scholarship Statement (optional but encouraged with 500-100 words)
Certificate of Completion from iHRAC
Visa support documentation
Access to a global alumni network
Enhanced knowledge, legal literacy, and advocacy tools
Exposure to leading refugee law experts and policy thinkers
Whether you’re a student, lawyer, activist, or policy enthusiast, this course offers the opportunity to engage deeply with one of the most urgent issues of our time, and to build a future grounded in justice, dignity, and human rights for all.
For inquiries related to admissions, events, collaborations, or media, please contact our administrative team at mail@ihracademy.ca
