United Nations Winter School Programme

JGU-United Nations Institute of Training and Research

Description

This two-week programme organized by United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) is a path breaking initiative provides an opportunity to students to learn from practitioners and diplomatic officers from several international organizations under the umbrella of the United Nations. Some of the notable features of this one-of-its-kind programme includes expert lectures, training workshops, career development sessions, multilateral conferences, guided tours of Geneva-based international institutions and UN bodies and cultural activities. The programme provides students a unique opportunity to engage directly with the systems, and operational structures of major UN institutions based in Geneva. Designed to foster a deeper understanding of the laws, policies and practices that underpin global governance, the programme provides first-hand exposure to the mechanisms of diplomacy through expert-led sessions and institutional visits in Geneva.

Students will participate in interactive sessions at leading UN bodies, including:

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): An in-depth session on the UN’s human rights mechanisms, treaty bodies, and the Human Rights Council, with a focus on monitoring compliance with international human rights conventions and addressing violations.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): A visit to WIPO headquarters to explore intellectual property law, covering trademarks, copyrights, patents, dispute resolution, and WIPO’s critical role in protecting global innovations.
• International Labour Organization (ILO): An introduction to global labour frameworks, conventions on workplace safety, fair wages, workers’ rights, and the legal foundations of international labour law.
• World Trade Organization (WTO): Expert insights into international trade law, WTO agreements, and the dispute settlement mechanisms that regulate and enforce compliance in global commerce.
• OHCHR Multilateral Conference on the Rights of the Child: Students observe a live multilateral conference at Palais Wilson, witnessing international law in practice. For example, the previous session reviewed Bulgaria’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, providing a practical perspective on how children’s rights are upheld worldwide.

By combining academic knowledge with real-world exposure, the programme equips students with critical insights into the functioning of international institutions and the practice of multilateral diplomacy, preparing them for future roles in law, policy, and global governance.