Training Course “Heritage Communities and Human Rights”, 2-5 September 2020, Estonia
The ICOMOS "Our Common Dignity“ Working Group is honored to invite heritage experts, community leaders, and graduate students from Europe and around the world to training course "Heritage Communities and Human Rights" which will be held 2-5 September 2020 in Estonia and online.
The training course "Heritage Communities and Human Rights" focuses on community-based heritage protection and the theory and application of human rights-based approaches in the heritage field. The course combines theoretical approaches with learning from practice involving field visits in Estonia as well as an exchange among participants.
Helping experts to address human rights issues in heritage management
The principal aim of the training course is to give heritage experts a solid knowledge basis to address human rights issues in heritage management with the focus on the rights of the owners and the communities. The course lecturers will provide an introduction to international human rights law that specifically relates to culture, heritage, and communities. In addition to providing basic knowledge about human rights and the UN, UNESCO and IUCN systems and practices, this course will discuss focus cases of heritage management and rights in protected heritage areas in different countries.
The training course on rights-based approaches is led by Dr. Peter Bille Larsen, the University of Geneva, and Dr. Stener Ekern, Oslo University. Field visit modules will be introduced and moderated by Riin Alatalu and Ave Paulus (ICOMOS “Our Common Dignity” working group).
All participants are requested to prepare a brief note discussing challenges and dilemmas in their academic or expert work related to the focus themes of the training course. Potential case studies from participants should deal with one of two heritage themes: 1) urban heritage, the balance of tourism and community rights; 2) rights to culture and resource use in natural heritage areas / protected areas/ cultural landscapes,. The two areas of practice will also be explored through targeted visits. The cases will be used during the course for comparative analysis study and in-depth discussions of specific rights issues.
The expected outcome is increase in capacity to engage with rights-based approaches and relevant toolkits. The case study method allows the participants to apply theoretical knowledge directly to their work and will help the course organizers accumulate knowledge about how HRBA will affect heritage work and improve this as a tool.
Participation is limited to 25 participants with an emphasis on heritage experts and practitioners. For the international participants (ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM, et al), accommodation in Estonia is covered by the inviting parties based on the applications. Certain modules will be accessible through the web.
The application is expected to introduce the case study to be presented at the training and the professional or academic involvement of the applicant. Deadline of the application: 31.07.2020, approval within a week from the submitted application, latest 8.08.2020.
Application form https://forms.gle/rP8x418uG1aXRLhn8
Training Course time frame:
2.09 Introduction of training course including background introduction to human rights and heritage, lessons from rights-based approaches (Stener Ekern, Peter Bille Larsen)
3.09 Case studies workshop and field visit: urban areas, tourism, and local communities. Learning from participants the communities of Tallinn Old Town (Riin Alatalu, Triin Talk)
- Tallinn – balance between tourism expectations and community rights. Introduction
- Field visit – walk with community representatives in Tallinn Old Town
- International case-studies on urban heritage, discussion
4.09 Case studies workshop and field trip: cultural landscapes, heritage community rights to their culture and nature use, traditional fishing. Learning from Lahemaa and international experiences (Ave Paulus, Peter Bille Larsen)
- Case analysis – community rights, traditional fishing and grazing in Lahemaa
- International case-studies on the challenges of rural heritage communities and traditional cultural practices, discussion
- Field visit – learning from the communities of Lahemaa National Park
5.09 Rethinking rights issues in different heritage contexts (facilitation Peter Bille Larsen/ Stener Ekern)
- Key questions, issues, and principles of heritage community rights based on case-studies and discussion
- Institutional panel: lessons learned on rights-based approaches (IUCN, ICCROM, UNESCO)
You are most welcome!
Bente Mathisen, Ave Paulus, Riin Alatalu
ICOMOS International Working Group “Our Common Dignity“
Additional information: estonia.icomos.org ave.paulus@artun.ee
Supporters: Nordic Council of Ministers, Estonian Academy of Arts et al
2019 training course “Heritage and Rights”in Palmse, Estonia. Photo: Tõnu Noorits
