INAF U4759y Human Rights Practicum 1 pt. The Human Rights Practicum is a forum where human rights practitioners and academics share with students their professional experiences and insights on the modern development of international human rights law, policy and practice. It plays an important role in the Human Rights Concentration as a means by which students are able to examine current trends in the human rights field and remain informed about the different roles that human rights actors play in a variety of contexts. The Practicum is designed, therefore, to enhance students' abilities to think critically and analytically about current problems and challenges confronting the field, and to do so in the context of a vibrant community of their peers. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs.

INAF U6406x International Response to Landmine Challenge 1.5 pts. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction effectively seeks to permanently eliminate landmines. The origins, negotiation, and implementation of this December 1997 international agreement forms the substantive core of this course. The course will continue by examining the operationalization of the Convention. What programs have been implemented and which have proved to be successful? What is the geographic scope of the humanitarian threat posed by landmines in October 2004? What roles are states, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations playing? As a practical example of global humanitarian intervention by the international community, what challenges remain and how best can they be tackled? Finally, how "successful" has the Ottawa Convention been? COURSE START DATE 10/28/11; COURSE END DATE 10/29/11SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Intl Org. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6490y International Humanitarian Law 1 pt. The overall aim of the course is to help students to understand the system of international humanitarian law and to obtain the professional skills and insight to use that knowledge in the context of complex humanitarian operations. Upon completing the course, students should understand the historical development and system of international law applicable in armed conflict situations, be familiar with the basic principles of international humanitarian law applicable to all armed conflicts including the basic rights of those who support victims in wars and conflicts, be able to analyze specifically the law guiding humanitarian operations, understand the rapid development of the law in responding to changes in warfare strategies in tactics and understand basic responses to serious violations of the law. Course dates: April 13th & 14th, 2012SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6495y Politics & Practice of Humanitarian Assistance in the new Millenium 1.5 pts. Humanitarian agencies became major players in the intra-state conflicts that characterized the 1990s. However, this prominence also led to critical examination, both from within and outside these agencies. The dilemmas of field workers led to new questions: How can the challenges presented by the fragmentation of state authority be addressed? Is there a way to link relief to development? Is there a relationship between humanitarian assistance and conflict resolution/peace-building activities? How can relief agencies manage their relations with the parties to a conflict? How do human rights and humanitarian aid intersect? The experience of the 1990s has made it clear to humanitarian agencies that technical skills were no longer sufficient - their staff also needed political and analytical skills to navigate in insecure environments. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs.

INAF U6497y Humanitarian Crisis-East Congo 1 pt. The overall aim of the course is to help students to understand the situation in Eastern Congo and how humanitarian organizations intervene. Upon completing this course students should: 1. Understand the historical development and current status of the conflict in Eastern Congo. 2. Be familiar with the basic operations, dilemmas, as well as achievements and shortcomings of several humanitarian NGOs active in Eastern Congo. 3. Understand the breakdown of state or better administrative institutions, in particular the education and health systems. Course dates: March 30 & 31, 2012SIPA: Africa. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6760y Managing Risk in Natural and other Disasters 3 pts. Natural and technological disasters occur when natural and technological processes inflict harm on a vulnerable society during extreme events. Natural disasters include draughts, floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural processes. They are normal, albeit extreme events of the Earth's dynamics. Technological disasters are caused by "normal" failures of technical systems. "Normal" is used here in the sense that generally the occurrence rates and magnitudes of failures and related events can be statistically quantified in advance but are highly uncertain (and sometimes actuarially impractical, e.g. for terrorist attacks). The natural and man-made events become disasters only when they affect exposed vulnerable societies. Vulnerability, or lack of resilience, can be caused by many factors such as concentration of population and assets when placed in harms way. Vulnerability differs fundamentally between more developed countries (MDCs) and less developed countries (LDCs). In LDCs, vulnerability is often associated with poverty, inequity, lack of information, or greed that may place people or entire populations into harm's predictable way. Public and private institutions may lack the political capacity, the will, or the resources to build sufficient disaster resilience by persistent assessment, planning and sustained risk mitigating actions. Are disasters the result of an unresolved dichotomy between long-term persistence of natural and cultural processes, vs. the short-term horizon of political perceptions and decisions? Are disasters scientifically "predictable"? How do urbanization and industrialization increase human vulnerability to natural and technological hazards or even create new hazards? How do the effects of disasters differ in less vs. more developed countries? How can the risks be managed? We assess science, technical, policy and humanitarian needs and opportunities for pre-event mitigation and preparedness and post-event relief and recovery. We explore the role of global economic development to the rapidly increasing risk exposure. Some of this development is unsustainable. Some development is promoted via loans to developing countries for large infrastructure projects. Many of these projects are not properly assessed for the existing hazards to which they will be exposed, or for the new risks they generate. How can external disaster relief best serve indigenous needs and help to build the locally needed resilience and coping capacity? Under what conditions can disaster mitigation become a local and global cultural value with equitable burdens and effects? Can disasters be managed without first solving all other societal ills? Can science and engineering make a unique contribution to reduce risk exposure and directly build local capacity and disaster resilience, without having to submit to sometimes oppressive or uncivil political norms? Students are challenged to find their own answers to some of these questions based on introductory information provided, and their own research and reasoning. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: E&E- Environment Policy. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs.

INAF U6807y International Conflict Resolution: Theories & Methods 3 pts. Aims to expose students of international conflict resolution to the different theories and approaches within the field. Provides a basic framework for considering the evolving field of international conflict resolution, while encouraging students to engage in their own exploration of the issues involved in resolving deadly international conflicts. Many of the prominent practitioners, scholars, and researchers in the field make presentations on their work to the class. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: ISP. SIPA: ICR. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies.

INAF U8181y Advocacy & Humanitarian Action 1.5 pts.Not offered in 2011-2012. In the wake of several humanitarian and human rights catastrophes during the last fifteen years advocacy has become a core activity for nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations, governments and many others seeking to change policy and shape public opinion. This seven-week course is designed to introduce students from various disciplines to the interplay and distinctions between media and advocacy in the fields of humanitarian action and human rights. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs.

INAF U8738y Peacemaking/Peacekeeping 3 pts. The course will explore the major conceptual and operational transitions which have occurred in the character and responsibilities of UN Peacekeeping over the past 16 years. United Nations Peace Operations have evolved significantly since the end of the Cold War. In 2006 over 90,000 peacekeepers were deployed in 16 missions mostly in Africa and the Middle East. The UN Summit of world leaders in December 2005 adopted the concept of The Responsibility to Protect - a new global norm placing human rights over traditional concepts of sovereignty. Yet the humanitarian and political crisis in Darfur underscores the profound gap between principle and implementation. The Summit also established the UN Peacebuilding Commission reflecting a growing awareness that rebuilding collapsed states will require significant civilian as well as military engagement over a longer timeframe than heretofore envisaged for UN operations. There is also a new willingness to work in partnership with regional organizations. We will conclude the course by assessing the capacity and political will of UN member states to meet these challenges as well as to develop a strengthened response to the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea and the threat of international terrorism. SIPA: MIA- Interstate Relations. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Intl Org. SIPA: ISP. SIPA: Middle East. SIPA: ICR. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies.

INAF U8882y Practicum on Education in Emergencies 1.5 pts. This course will focus on preparing students to understand the importance of education in the "emergency" settings; to reflect on the ways in which education interfaces with protective or non-protective forces in these settings; and to articulate the best practices and minimum standards for implementing education programming across these settings. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Short Courses.

POPF P8620y Protection of Children in Disaster & War 1.5 pts.

This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8625y Communicable Disease in Complex Emergencies 1.5 pts. This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8639y Gender-based Violence in Complex Emergencies 1.5 pts. This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: EPD. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8642y Program Evaluation in Humanitarian Settings 1.5 pts.

POPF P8651y Water and Sanitation in Complex Emergencies 1.5 pts. This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8673y Refugee Reproductive Health 1.5 pts. This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Gender Policy. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8679y Investigative Methods in Complex Emergencies 3 pts.

This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P8683y Psychosocial and Mental Health Issues in Forced Migration 1.5 pts. This is a Public Health Course. Public Health classes are offered on the Health Services Campus at 168th Street.

For more detailed course information, please go to Mailman School of Public Health Courses website at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/academics/courses SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Electives.

POPF P9630y Applying Ethical and Human Rights Practice in Public Health 1-2 pts.