Educational Activities

While our legal aid program gives fish to people hungering for righteousness, our educational and informational activities teach them to fish. Our Human Rights School, meanwhile, has yet a further important mission: it helps us to change the view law students have of legal options for protecting the public interest, and here and there, to fish up enthusiasts for public interest law.

The 2001 Urban Sprawl Seminar
From May 26th to 27th, 2001 in Brno, we held a seminar on "urban sprawl," i.e. on unchecked growth of cities and the environmental problems it causes. It took place within a joint project of environmental NGOs from the Czech Republic (EPS), Slovakia (the Center for Environmental Public Advocacy), and the United States (the US branch of Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide). It gathered environmental lawyers, grassroots activists from environmental NGOs throughout the Czech Republic who cover this problem, and the very experts who compose land-use plans. The seminar followed up on an international workshop in Trenčín, Slovakia that had seen guests from Poland, Hungary, and the CR. The seminar's output was an open letter to the Ministry for Local Development and the Ministry of Environment containing concrete proposals on tools for fighting "urban sprawl."

The School of Civic Initiative
EPS staff gave trainings at a seminar organized as part of Friends of the Earth-Czech Republic's Škola občanské iniciativy (School of Civic Initiative) series. These seminars help give initiatives (citizens' campaigns) initiative (the energy and aptitude they need to take action). On Saturday, April 28th, 2001, we used practical exercises to teach around twenty advanced participants of this series to obtain information and to promote and organize a local referendum.

A Training for the Environmental Advisory Center Network
In September of 2001, we organized, for Síť ekologických poraden (the Environmental Advisory Center Network), a seminar on consumer's rights, deceptive advertising, and eco-labels. Our main guest there was Mgr. Martin Elger from the association Ars Aequi at Boni.

Trainings for Participants at Forest Conservation Camps in the Beskydy Mountains
In July and August of 2001, we led two trainings for participants of a forest conservation camp in the village Muchovice, on the topics of the right to information, public participation in administrative procedures, and using the law to protect the environment. We also took part in a roundtable regarding the ski run atop Lysá Hora. This meeting at the Ostravice eco-center brought together representatives of the District Office in Frýdek-Místek, the village of Ostravice, the forestry company Lesy ČR a.s., the association Beskydčan, and 30 angry skiers.

Lectures and Trainings by the Advisory Center for Women in Crisis
On October 1st, 2001, we led a training for workers at an asylum house in Brno (run by the association Magdalenium), on the topic of the legal, psychological, and social-work aspects of domestic violence. On October 22nd, we gave a lecture for students at Masaryk University's school of social sciences concerning domestic violence.

Seminar for Roma in Ostrava and Training for Roma Advisors
See the chapter on the Civic Legal Observers (OPH).

Via iuris and Other Publishing Activities

Citizens and the Police
This nearly 100-page brochure, which we published at the end of the year as part of our Pro public editions, provides readers with theory, examples, and sample legal filings connected with the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the Police of the Czech Republic, and members of city police forces. The publication acquaints readers with basic legal terms and concepts and covers the issues of detention, police searches and ID checks, the police's allowable means of coercion, the right to assembly, and legal options for reacting to unlawful actions by the city and state police.

Legal Handbook for Anyone Who Does Not Want to Live by a Nuclear Waste Disposal Site
The environmental group Calla issued this handbook, but EPS contributed to it by writing the vast majority of its text. The handbook covers the legal aspects of surveying and permits for nuclear waste disposal sites. It is intended for citizens and for communities that have been preliminarily selected for placement of deep nuclear waste disposal facilities.

Leaflets of the Advisory Center for Women in Crisis
The Center issued several leaflets intended to help domestic-violence victims appreciate that what is happening to them is neither normal nor in accord with the law, and what their options are for handling their situations. For victims sexually abused as children and female rape victims, we issued our Leaflet for Sexual Abuse Victims; we also published two leaflets serving to increase awareness of the problem of violence towards women, as well as two card-sized publications: "Characteristic Traits of Violent Partners" and "Why She Won't Leave Him." We distributed the leaflets to child-care authorities, psychological consulting centers, NGOs that cover this issue, and hospitals.

Via iuris Gets a Facelift
EPS published six new issues of its public interest law newsletter, with a completely new look and new contributors.
In 2001, we published six more issues of Via iuris, our bimonthly newsletter on the legal protection of the public interest. It has been coming out since the beginning of the year in a new layout, with several new columns and an expanded format-now eight pages.

www.i-eps.cz and www.zenavtisni.cz
Our websites are finally complete.
March 2001 brought a new way to obtain information on EPS's activities: its now full-fledged website www.i-eps.cz. Though we are still putting the finishing touches on it, it is already usable as a source of up-to-date news on our organization's work. We have also set up a site for the Advisory Center for Women in Crisis: www.zenavtisni.cz. It provides definitions of domestic violence and rape, answers to frequently asked questions, a contact for the Center, and more.

Developing Public Interest Law Sector

"I am stunned-I'm glad to have had the chance to get to know this field of law and to finally experience that law, too, has a purpose."
(From a final evaluation by a participant at the School of Human Rights)

Schools of human rights are a tool used throughout the world to acquaint law students with a set of issues that receives only limited time and mention at their schools. For us, in the Czech context, it has yet another goal-it is a key tool for broadening the ranks of lawyers who cover, as volunteers or professionals, the legal protection of the public interest.

The Summer Human Rights School, September 16th-22nd, 2001 in Brno
"Four years of studies at the Olomouc law school have systematically spoiled my taste for law, but here law seems very interesting… would you like to teach at our school?"
(From a final evaluation by a School participant)
EPS's 2001 Human Rights School took place from early evening of Sunday, September 16th to the morning of Saturday, September 22nd, in the Kozí Horka hotel near the Brno reservoir lake. Participants attended the program, slept, and took their meals within the hotel. Students from any of the Czech law schools (in Brno, Olomouc, Plzeň, and Prague) who had completed at least three years of studies could apply to participate.

The School's Program
"Great organization, group work, constant attention from the organizers, very interesting topics, perfect theater performances. It would be hard to find any fault with the [School] (perhaps just the weather); it was great. Thanks."
(From an evaluation by a School participant)Snažili jsme se:
We tried to:
- offer the most complete overview possible of the problems faced when promoting public interest law in the Czech Republic;
- lecture as little as possible, and role-play proceedings and cover cases interactively as much as possible;
- and invite guests to individual program blocks wherever this would raise the program's quality.

So… what did do at the Human Rights School?
Sunday, September 16th: We played ice-breaking games, the "Three Sailors Case" role-play (on the relationship between law and justice), and "A Step Forward," a game surveying students' opinions on specific legal and social problems.
Monday, September 17th: An all-day game regarding the investigation of a racially motivated felony, run by activists from the Slovak organization CEPA in cooperation with JUDr. Jan Sladký, a state prosecutor at the Brno Public Prosecutor's Office. Sociologist Jan Keller gave a lecture on the topic "Are Democratic Politics Dead?"
Tuesday, September 18th: Students covered cases of psychologically, physically, and sexually abused children under the guidance of EPS lawyer Mgr. Radka Jelínková and psychologist PhDr. Uváčiková, who handle such cases. Mgr. Huňková led a block entitled Theory and Practice of Dealing with Violence towards Women. Ing. Leoš Košťál from the association Beskydčan and Ing. Vladimir Burda from the association Ochrana vod spoke on how they are acting locally to promote global change, and how local offices "help" them in the process.
Wednesday, September 19th: We role-played the "Chomutov Case," about an administrative procedure regarding placement of a supermarket in place of a green area in the city of Chomutov. This time around, EPS staff played officials from state authorities, and students played participants of an administrative procedure (investors, the supermarket's future "neighbors," a community, and environmental organizations). In the evening, we held a discussion with Pete Frost from the Western Environmental Law Center in Oregon regarding forest conservation, endangered animal species, and indigenous peoples' rights.
Wednesday, September 19th: OPH staff presented OPH's work, and spoke on the theory and practice of monitoring violence at police stations. They also led a role-play in which police violence "occurred" within the hotel and an investigation took place; here, students had the chance to experience first-hand what non-governmental monitoring of the actions of the Police of the Czech Republic look like. Doc. JUDr. Dalibor Jílek, from the International Law department of Brno's Masaryk University, gave a presentation on decision-making processes at the European Court for Human Rights. EPS spoke in the evening about the necessity of a well-protected right to information.
Wednesday, September 19th: We covered refugees' legal standing in the Czech Republic, theory regarding refugee law, and deficiencies in this law in practice. We led a role-play including a hearing of an "Afghan refugee," on the basis of whose words participants were to decide whether or not she meets the conditions for being granted asylum. Mgr. Martin Elger from the association Ars Aequi et Boni spoke on consumer protection in the Czech Republic. We were also honored with a visit by JUDr. Otakar Motejl, the first Czech Ombudsman. Friday evening brought the closing events: an evaluation (what participants liked and disliked) and a farewell party.

The School's Continuation Meeting: November 15th-17th in Olomouc
Here several participants in the School decided to become participants in the EPS's activities.
"Lots of themes to reflect on (children, women, OPH, the environment). I want to go out and do something."
(From an evaluation by a School participant)
The best proof of the 2001 School's success lies in the fact that most participants also came to its continuation meeting. This meeting, from November 15th to 17th in Olomouc, took place thanks to cooperation with the leadership of the local law school and several of its teachers. Moreover, students themselves took a large part in organizing this follow-up. The event could have hardly taken place without this help.
Our aim-to expand the ranks of our volunteers from among participants of the School of Human Rights-succeeded this year to an absolutely unexpected degree. We gained active volunteers for all EPS programs, and our cooperation continues unchecked even a half-year later. Concrete exhibits of cooperation include week-long internships by three participants of the 2001 school: Miroslav Stehlík, Jiří Bajer, and Helena Svatošová.

What Are Our Future Plans?
In light of the successfulness of the three Human Rights Schools to date, we wish to continue with them. We also want to add these improvements:

- internships in the Netherlands for selected participants-thanks to a joint project by EPS and the organization Millieukontakt Oost Europa, six participants of the Human Rights School will go on a several-day "immersion" internship at Dutch human-rights organizations.

- exchange-based participation by students at the Human Rights School in Slovakia-we want to reach an agreement whereby three students each year would attend a similar event in Slovakia after attending the School.

- a wider palette of NGO contacts-we will offer School participants materials from other NGOs. We will also try to arrange the participation of people from other organizations at the School of Human Rights. Our aim here will be to deepen participants' understanding of the non-profit sector and help them form mutually beneficially relationships.

- networking with School "graduates"-participants of the School will receive Via iuris, our Infolist newsletter, and other EPS materials, and will be invited to certain of our events.

What Else Happened in 2001?

EPS received the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's award for the best environmental project of the year
In September 2001, the campaign to organize a local referendum in Tábor, which EPS led together with Tábor activists now gathered in the local group Společnost pro trvale udržitelný život, received 1st prize from Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Japan. First prize carries a financial reward of $6,000. EPS decided to donate the majority of this sum towards civic activities in Tábor, because the referendum could never have taken place without the aid of other Tábor citizens. EPS still covers the topic of local referendums, and it advises civic initiatives in several communities of various sizes in the Czech Republic that are striving to organize local referenda (e.g. in Libouchec, Přelouč, and Jilemnice).

EPS Staff Members Visit the United States
In early 2001, two EPS staff members had the chance to better acquaint themselves with how NGOs and the legal system in the USA work. Pavel Franc spent three months in a study stay at our partner organization E-LAW US in Eugene, Oregon. E-LAW (Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide) is a worldwide network of lawyers and scientists working on environmental-protection issues During his stay, he focused mainly on the possibilities for using court protection as a tool in environmental issues, and on the phenomenon of urban sprawl, including related adjustments to construction-permit proceedings. He also took part in E-LAW's annual meeting during his stay and spoke at the public interest law conference that tied into it. Vítězslav Dohnal, meanwhile, went on a four-week trip to the USA in the framework of the International Visitors Program, on the invitation of the American embassy in Prague. During his trip, he studied development of the non-profit sector. He and four other Czech participants met with dozens of representatives from NGOs, foundations, and government institutions in Washington, Portland, Austin, and New York.
Cooperation with the Dutch Organization Milieukontakt Oost-Europa
EPS and Milieukontakt Oost-Europa representatives met in Amsterdam in early October for a kick-off meeting starting a three-year cooperation project financed by funds from the MATRA Programme, a program to support social transformation in post-communist countries. The main goal of this Czech-Dutch cooperation is for EPS to gain from Dutch experience with bringing the public into decision-making regarding the environment and human rights.

EPS Ever Larger and More Professional
As EPS takes on more tasks, it also takes on more paid and unpaid staff. Thanks to our successful Human Rights School, we currently boast a well-functioning network of volunteers as well as paid partners, mostly part-timers. Besides new partners from among lawyers, we have, for example, two on-staff psychologists and a psychotherapist, who are helping endangered children and domestic-violence victims, and a fieldworker for communication with the Roma minority, who will be seeking out cases of police violence. We have begun systematically making use of expert studies to help resolve our cases.