ELSA delegations to international organisations

Every year ELSA sends several delegations to sessions of international bodies.

The delegations' destinations

ELSA sends delegations to the ECOSOC, to the Assembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court, to the UNCITRAL and to the WIPO.

Within the ECOSOC ELSA delegations take part at the sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Subcommission on Human Rights, the Commission for Social Development and of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Concerning the UNCITRAL ELSA delegations are send to the sessions of the UNCITRAL itself as well as to the sessions of its working groups I, II, III, VI.

Up till now delegations send to the WIPO took part in the sessions of the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents and of the Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to the WIPO Development Agenda.

Selection procedure

When ELSA International decides to send a delegation to a session, a call for applications is sent over the international and national e-mail-lists. Current calls for applications can be found under  events.

The call for applications contains the name of the body, date and place of the session as well as further information concerning the content of the session. In the attachement or through a link the interested member can find the application form with questions concerning personal information, education, ELSA-resume and motivation. Any ELSA-member having sufficient academic competence for the session can apply for the delegation.

The participants of the delegations are chosen by the international board of ELSA. One of the participants will be nominated as head of delegation.

Tasks of the participants

The participants shall professionally represent ELSA at the session. They have to conduct research to prepare for the session. The participants take part in the sessions of the body as well as possible side or parallel events. Another important task is the establishment of contacts with delegations of other NGOs or states, experts as well as any other participants. These contacts are forwarded to the international board in order to be available for the whole network. After the session the delegation produces a report which is also forwarded to the international board and subsequently published in the ELSA online archive. Additionally delegation members shall give presentations in their country upon request.

The head of delegation coordinates the work of the delegation. He supports the academic preparation and ensures that the work of the delegation is of high quality and its appearance professional.

Practical matters

ELSA does not cover any costs of the participation (such as expenses for travelling and accomodation).
ELSA International supports the participants with letters for visa applications.

Interested?

The participation in a delegation to an international body is an experience you will probably never forget. It enriches the academic studies and provides practical insights you can find nowhere else.

More Information and personal experiences can be found in the reports of members of past delegations. The  Director for Human Rights will answer any further questions.

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