15th Young Faces Conference: “Use and Abuse of Electronic Surveillance”

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), with the support of the Swiss Ministry of Defence, invites promising young professionals to apply for a place in DCAF’s 2015 Young Faces Conference (YFC) on the Use and Abuse of Electronic Surveillance.

With distance learning activities and a four-day workshop from 20 to 23 October the participants will discuss the challenges of balancing human rights and the need for electronic surveillance and they will learn to better understand and apply European standards on the limits of using electronic surveillance. Moreover, the programme will tackle the specific challenges of new kinds of electronic surveillance methods, in particular mass surveillance and how to address the issues they raise for national regulation.

The main emphasis of discussions will be on analysing the legislation of Western Balkan countries on electronic surveillance and their implementation. This will also include a debate on how to strengthen internal regulation, judicial control and parliamentary oversight to better prevent or address abuses. Following a review of applications, approximately 30 candidates will be selected to participate in the 2015 Young Faces Conference. The candidates will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by 7 September 2015.

Eligibility

To be considered for the 2015 Young Faces Conference, applicants must:

• Be no more than 35 years old on 31 December 2015;
• Be public officials, graduate students, or members of civil society or the media from the Western Balkans (Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) or Moldova;
• Hold a graduate degree (or be enrolled in a graduate degree programme) or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline;
• Have a very good command of English, spoken and written;
• Be willing to commit to actively participate in all programme activities:
  • Be available to participate in a four-day workshop (to be organised from 20 to 23 October 2015);
  • Be available to take part in an interactive online preparatory sessions (for this, participants need access to the Internet);
  • Be prepared to engage in research and draft a 1,500 word policy brief.

Costs

The organisers will cover all related expenses for selected candidates, including meals, hotel accommodation and economy class travel expenses, when applicable. Selected candidates will subsequently receive a folder of material, which they are expected to thoroughly review over the course of the preparatory activities and in advance of the four-day workshop.

Application

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2015.

For more information please visit the official website.