What will be discussed?
For over 75 years, the Council of Europe unites Europe around the
values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. In 2025, the
participants of the Summer School will debate whether the Council of
Europe is successful in its mission. The aim of the summer school is
twofold.
Firstly, the experts will assess the effectiveness of execution of
the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and other bodies of
the Council of Europe. Secondly, the Summer School will also address the
pressing challenges of migration, a critical legal and political issue
facing every European state. Discussions will examine the Council of
Europe’s role in protecting the rights of migrants, analysing relevant
legal standards, policies, and the responsibilities of member states in
this context.
The course will feature insights from key decision-makers within the
Council of Europe, leading academics, and other stakeholders. Through
these discussions, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding
of the Council of Europe, its effectiveness in protecting human rights,
democracy and the rule of law. The participants will gain the knowledge
necessary for research, effective advocacy, implementation and public
policy design.
What is the format?
The Summer School will be set as an educational space for interactive
and engaging learning, and discussion. The Summer School will last for
two weeks. Seminars and workshops will be led by high profile invited
researchers and practitioners. These activities will be complemented by
interactive sessions delivered by academic staff members of the School
of Law and Social Justice of the University of Liverpool. Please note
that participation will be in-person only, as online attendance will not
be available.
Who can participate?
This Summer School will be useful for advanced postgraduate taught
(Master’s) and research (PhD) students, post-doctoral researchers, early
career scholars, practitioners such as lawyers, judges, civil servants
interested in the law of the Council of Europe, and in human rights, the
rule of law and democracy. While the program is open to lawyers, it
also welcomes individuals specialising in related fields, such as
political science, sociology, criminology etc., who possess the
necessary background knowledge to engage effectively in the
discussions.
What is the language of the Summer School?
All Summer School activities will take place in English. Participants shall be proficient in English.
Who is the faculty?
- Professor Vincent Chetail (Geneva Graduate Institute)
- Mr Hugh Chetwynd (TBC) (Executive Secretary of the
Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) - Judge Mykola Gnatovskyy (Judge of the European Court of Human Rights)
- Ms Lilja Gretarsdottir (Head of Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards, Council of Europe)
- Judge Mattias Guymar (TBC) (Judge of the European Court of Human Rights)
- Dr Julia Kozma (TBC) (Member of the SPT)
- Judge Martin Kuijer (Justice of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, Vice-President of Venice Commission)
- Mr Sandy Moss (UK permanent representative to the Council of Europe)
- Professor Michele Nicoletti (the former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe)
- Professor Aoife Nolan (President of the European Committee of Social Rights)
- Dr Theodoros Roussopoulos (TBC) (the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe)
University of Liverpool staff members will also provide interactive master classes. They will be led by:
How much does it cost?
Participation fee
£800 GBP
Accommodation
Bed and breakfast accommodation will be approximately £800 GBP
Scholarships
A number of scholarships will be provided to the selected participants covering the participation fee and bed-and-breakfast accommodation only. The scholarships are provided by the Council of Europe and the University of Liverpool’s International Law and Human Rights Unit.
Visas
We cannot offer any visa related support.
However, accepted participants will receive a letter confirming their
place in the summer school which they can then demonstrate during their
visa application. Please leave ample time to apply for a UK visa as you
may experience delays.
How to apply
Deadline and outcomes
Those applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships must submit no later than 23:59 (UK time) on 24 February 2025. Applications from the fee-paying participants will not be accepted after 23:59 (UK time) on 30 April 2025.