Christian Conference of Asia

Institute of Human Rights (IHR)
17–28 May 2021

Institute of Human Rights (IHR)“Being Defenders of Human Rights and Human Dignity”“We envisage a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality,and non-discrimination; of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity…a just, equitable, tolerant, open, andsocially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met.”

Background Information
The concept of human rights and human dignity is ancient. The struggle for protecting human dignityis as old as the exploitation of human beings who were traditionally termed as “lesser fortunate”. The
idea of human rights has wider dimensions—both aspirational and practical. Human rights principles
hold up the vision of a free, just, and peaceful world, and set minimum standards for how individuals
and institutions everywhere should treat people. Human rights standards also empower people with aframework for action when those minimum standards are not met. However, the core values of theprinciples of human rights are based on the protection and advancement of human dignity.
Upholding human rights are acts of maintaining and affirming each person’s dignity. Human rights
assume many forms and are shaped by the historical, socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions
through which they prevail. Human rights, in practice, are not static but are dynamic and changing,reflecting the socio-economic and political systems in which they are nurtured or negated. The scope
and applications of human rights evolve in meaning and social impact as these systems change. Today,
human rights have permeated virtually every corner of the world, with its principles embedded innational legislations, enshrined in national constitutions, and included in important international
treaties.
Over the centuries, human rights as internationally recognised value encompasses not only thetraditional concept of civil and political rights, but also economic and social rights, and a thirdgeneration of collective rights such as right to peace, development, and environment. In other words,
human rights represent the totality of basic rights that are inherent to every human being since birth;
accorded simply by nature of being, and not contingent on other differentiations or characteristics.
Although the world has changed dramatically since the time the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) was adopted in 1948—for example, its drafters could not have possibly foreseen modern
challenges of climate change, digital privacy, and artificial intelligence—its unwavering focus on humandignity continues to provide a solid basis for evolving concepts of freedom. However, the current sociopolitical climate is highly charged, divisive, and discriminatory. There have been several instances ofgross human rights violations in today’s world.
It is imperative to bear in mind that there is no peace without justice and that there cannot be any
durable and lasting development without the promotion of broad social progress and better standardsof life for all. Rather than advancing to greater freedom, equality, justice, and peace, the world is sliding
backwards. Thus, we are now at a pivotal time in human history. The basic principles that undergird
human rights for all must be strengthened to combat today’s challenges.

As Christians, we are called upon to combat this epidemic of human rights violations. The kinds ofmassive global suffering that result from human rights violations in both the civic-political and the socioeconomic orders force us to develop effective responses that are grounded in a culture of human rights.
It requires first to affirm that all persons are made in the image and likeness of God, and then confront
the realities of the lives of millions of people who are caught in the bondage of institutionalised
violence. We are called to reiterate our commitment to uphold the values of human dignity andestablish a culture of human rights.
The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has historically been at the forefront of the defence of humanrights in Asia in various ways. The CCA has been addressing human rights issues in Asia over the pastdecades.

Institute of Human Rights (IHR)
The Institute of Human Rights (IHR) is a new initiative of the CCA to train pastors and church workers inhuman rights advocacy and action as well as to understand the principles of human rights and humandignity from Christian theological perspectives. The two-week-long training programme, under thetheme ‘Being Defenders of Human Rights and Human Dignity’, will aim at training and empowering
young pastors and church workers as well as social and human rights activists with the knowledge andskills they require to become human rights defenders in their communities.
The IHR will also focus on human rights and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The agenda for
Sustainable Development sets out a vision for “sustainable development grounded in international
human rights standards, putting equality and non-discrimination at the centre of its efforts andencompassing not only economic and social rights but also civil, political, and cultural rights, and theright to development”. In order to uphold the values of human rights, we need to envisage a world ofuniversal respect for human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination; of respect
for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity. It is an imperative to promote and protect the values of a just,equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met
in every context.
Universal values enable the SDGs to be truly transformative, by placing the person and their inherentdignity at the heart of development efforts, empowering all people to become active partners in thisendeavour. Integrating universal values of human rights into implementation of SDGs will ensure theirinternational obligations which will uphold the values of human rights and human dignity.
In 2021, the IHR will be conducted through a virtual platform (online), facilitated by a team of prominentand internationally recognised human rights experts, advocates, activists, and academicians.

ObjectivesTo enable a select group of young prospective social activists and human rights defenders fromamong pastors and church workers in Asia to develop wider perspectives on human rights;
To enable the participants to deepen their understanding on human rights and human dignityfrom biblical theological as well as interfaith perspectives;
To enable the prospective human rights defenders to develop their skills on application oftheoretical and legal human rights instruments while being engaged in defending human rights
in their respective contexts.

IHR–2021 Schedule
IHR–2021 will be held from 17 to 28 May 2021 and sessions will be conducted each week from Monday
to Friday through Zoom. Therefore, selected participants are expected to make the necessary
arrangements to access and secure their own stable internet connection and devices(laptop/desktop/computer/tablet/smartphone, etc.) throughout the deliberations of IHR sessions.
There will be two sessions on each working day of IHR (Mon-Fri in both weeks). Each session will lastfor 90 minutes (60 minutes lecture time and 30 minutes discussion/reflections). In total there will be
20 sessions/workshops over 10 working days during the entire duration of the IHR.

Application and Selection Process
Twenty-five selected students only will be admitted to the training course. Those who are interested toapply must send the following documents together:The duly filled application form for IHR (available for download on the CCA website);
A curriculum vitae with details on academic qualifications, personal details, and work
experiences;
Letter of recommendation/endorsement from the applicant’s member church/ council/
ecumenical organisation/ institution;
A scanned copy of the applicant’s ID or passport;
An official photograph (scanned digital copy).

The completed IHR–2021 application must be sent along with scanned copies of all supporting
documents to bp-cca@cca.org.hk. In case email correspondence is not possible, applicants are advised
to fax the application form and other documents to +66-53-247-303.
The deadline for receiving the complete application form with all supporting documents is 10 April 2021.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Selections will be based on competence, gender, and sub-regional balances, and the applicant’s ability
to effectively communicate in English.