Disclosure: Human Rights Careers may be compensated by course providers.
Applications are open for the new Executive Diploma on Law and Neuroscience – A Comparative Approach, a 5-week programme consisting of 3 e-learning modules and interactive e-workshops focused on the intersection between Law and Neuroscience – organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in September 2023.
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Advances in neuroscientific research and technologies have become increasingly important for the field of law. Not only are the number of court cases involving neuroscientific evidence rapidly rising, neuro-legal studies are also used to inform us on substantive legal doctrines, such as the insanity defense. Additionally, the interaction between the law and the neurosciences is highly relevant for criminal policy issues, such as the possible implications of brain research for juvenile offenders or addicts. However, the use of neuroscientific techniques in the legal system is not without its problems, and raises empirical, practical, and ethical questions.
This programme offers a unique opportunity to explore current applications, but also some challenges and limitations, of implementing neuroscientific research and neurotechnology in the legal system, considering both US and European jurisdictions. The Executive Diploma on Law and Neuroscience – A Comparative Approach will be offered online through a five-week period, and organised in three e-learning modules, including interactive e-workshops, focused on the intersection between Law and Neuroscience.
In dedicated sessions delivered by top experts, participants will explore specific areas, such as the insanity defense, as well as the coercive use of neurotechniques and human rights from a comparative perspective. They will also engage in some of the most pressing current debates – particularly on the role of adversity and trauma from a legal psychology perspective within the context of asylum law and the position of adolescents/juveniles in (criminal) law.
The programme will take place from 4 September to 8 October 2023. It is fully online, allowing participants from all over the world to join. A maximum of 35 participants are accepted per edition. All individuals are welcome to register, and spots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information on fees and the application procedure, please visit UNITAR’s official website, or email info.ilp@unitar.org.
