○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Rights of the Disabled ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 5.6 In the year 2003 the NHRC launched a project in partnership with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), which possesses vast experience in the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada, and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the leading distance education provider in India. 5.7 The overarching aim of the NHRC-CHRC-IGNOU Linkage Project was to increase the capabilities and strengths of both the Commissions and their associated partners to cooperatively address major human rights issues in relation to persons with disabilities. To realize this encompassing objective, a programme to improve technical capabilities and awareness of the NHRC staff, legal practitioners, and disability and human rights advocates was undertaken. 5.8 A key component of the project was the ‘Training of Trainers Programme’, which has prepared a small cadre of human rights trainers in disability who are capable of serving formal and non-formal programmes of legal studies. The Programme was offered in four phases during 2004-2005. Phase I included face-to-face training in a participatory mode, which was conducted at National Law School of India University, Bangalore from 5th to 10th July 2004. 5.9 In Phase II the participants undertook individual studies using desk research and field investigations. Phase III included a national seminar in which participants shared findings of their studies. This seminar was convened at NALSAR University of Law at Hyderabad from 28th October to 30th November, 2004. In Phase IV, the participants facilitated five training workshops for a group of law faculties, and disability rights and human rights advocates. 5.10 Between January and March 2005, these master trainers facilitated five outreach-training workshops for the members of law faculties from more than fifty universities and a number of disability and human rights advocates. In order to sustain the momentum on human rights education and awareness in the programmes of legal studies these workshops were also organized in the premises of leading law schools and universities. The schedule of the workshops is outlined in the following table: National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005 AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65 105 85 7/17/06, 6:29 PM

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