Training Program – November 4 to November 22, 2024 – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Are you working with communities affected by environmental and human rights issues? Do you have legal training or give legal support to communities on environmental and human rights  issues? If so, EarthRights International’s annual Mekong Legal Advocacy Institute (MLAI) training could be just the thing you’re looking for.

Who is EarthRights International?

EarthRights International is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment, which we define as “earth rights.” We specialize in fact-finding, legal actions against perpetrators of earth rights abuses, training grassroots and community leaders, and advocacy campaigns. Through these strategies, EarthRights seeks to end earth rights abuses, to provide real solutions for communities, and to promote and protect human rights and the environment in the communities we work alongside.

In the Mekong region, EarthRights has been working with communities, civil society organizations and lawyers to protect earth rights from environmental and human rights abuses associated with rapid economic development and investment for almost 30 years. This has included lawsuits and legal advocacy as part of our three-pronged approach of training, campaigning and legal actions.

What is MLAI? 

MLAI is our annual training program for young Mekong legal professionals that work with communities affected by earth rights abuses. It is a short in-person training program that brings together legal professionals from the Mekong region who share EarthRights International’s desire to use the law and legal advocacy as tools for human rights and environmental justice.

In 2024, MLAI will be three weeks that focus on community lawyering, including the challenges presented by limited civic space, weak rule of law and of ensuring that lawsuits and advocacy are community-led. The training will focus on the use of administrative law, particularly environmental impact assessment, and role of procedural rights, while the knowledge and skills will help junior lawyers, paralegals or environmental defenders that are using or wish to use a range of legal mechanisms to combat earth rights abuse.  

During the MLAI training program, participants will learn about emerging environmental and human rights issues that are impacting local communities in the Mekong region, as well as the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern those issues. Additionally, the training will emphasize developing skills in areas such as legal analysis and documentation in order to help participants to continue to serve their communities.  

The Mekong region is experiencing rapid economic development and investment, which has brought along changes that pose major challenges for the communities living in the region. How can we support them to voice their concerns? To work on solutions to these questions, MLAI is currently seeking junior lawyers, legal advocates, youth leaders and NGO workers from the six Mekong countries – Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

What will you gain from MLAI?

At the end of the workshop you will:

• Be more able to anticipate key challenges of taking on legal cases and advocacy work for communities and identify solutions to these challenges. 
• Understand the importance of community-led campaigns and know strategies to facilitate community organizing. 
• Understand opportunities and challenges presented by administrative law, particularly in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Understand the procedural environmental rights of communities and environmental defenders.  
• Understand the rights of and challenges faced by indigenous communities. 
• Improve the skills required for community lawyering such as legal analysis and documentation. 
• Increase your network of environmental lawyers and environmental defenders

What do you need to apply? 

• Be from one of the Mekong region countries (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam).
• Have a legal background – this can be as a qualified lawyer, a paralegal, a legal education or experience of supporting communities through legal processes. 
• A least 2 years of experience working on legal, human rights or environmental issues, ideally in support of communities.  
• Be flexible and adaptable to a new environment and cultural diversities.
• Be willing to give and receive feedback and exchange opinions, experiences, and knowledge with other international participants.
• Commitment for all of the program from 4 to 22 November plus travel time.  
• Ability to travel and valid travel documents for travel to Thailand.
• A good understanding of spoken English, as the mode of instruction is English. 

Field trips and networking events with senior legal experts and environmental defenders are woven into the training.

MLAI 2024 will be held from 4 to 22 November in Chiang Mai, Thailand. EarthRights will cover travel, food and accommodation costs of the participants. If you have questions, please feel free to write to us at mlaiapplications@earthrights.org.

How to Apply?

If you are interested in being part of this collaborative training, please: 

(1) fill out the attached application form; and, 

(2) submit your most recent CV or resume. 

You may email your application form and CV/resume to: mlaiapplications@earthrights.org. 

The deadline is September 8, 2024 (applications received after September 8 may still be considered if room is available). 

If you are an ethnic or gender minority, or come from an under-represented community, you’re highly encouraged to apply. 

Please note that participants that have not been selected will not be contacted.