The Women’s Human Rights Training Institute (WHRTI-10) is a prestigious international legal training programme designed to strengthen the capacity of lawyers and legal professionals working on women’s rights, gender equality, and strategic human rights litigation. Organised by the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation (BGRF) in partnership with Equality Now, this 10th round of WHRTI continues a long-standing legacy of empowering legal experts to advance justice for women and girls globally.

As part of Equality Now’s Equal Justice Academy, the programme builds on more than 20 years of impactful training, advocacy, and legal capacity development focused on gender equality and women’s rights protection.

This hybrid training programme is scheduled for 2026 and combines online learning with an intensive in-person legal training session in Bulgaria.

About the Women’s Human Rights Training Institute (WHRTI-10)

The WHRTI is a specialised legal education and professional development initiative launched in 2004. It is designed to equip young and mid-career legal professionals with the knowledge, tools, and practical experience required to litigate women’s rights cases and advocate for gender justice at national and international levels.

The programme places strong emphasis on building legal expertise in:

Strategic litigation
Human rights law
Gender equality frameworks
Advocacy and legal reform

It is particularly focused on strengthening legal capacity in Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Newly Independent States (NIS), while also accepting a limited number of participants from other regions.

Core Focus Areas of WHRTI-10

Participants will receive advanced training across multiple critical areas affecting women’s rights globally. These include:

1. Gender-Based Violence and Justice Systems

Gender-based violence against women
Legal frameworks addressing domestic and sexual violence
Survivors’ access to justice

2. Technology-Facilitated Violence

Online harassment and digital abuse
Cyber violence against women
Legal responses to tech-enabled gender crimes

3. Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

Access to reproductive healthcare
Legal protection of bodily autonomy
Policy frameworks supporting SRHR

4. Economic and Social Rights

Employment discrimination
Workplace equality laws
Economic empowerment through legal systems

5. Political Participation and Representation

Women in leadership and decision-making
Legal barriers to political participation
Protection against political violence

6. Intersectional Discrimination

Discrimination based on race, disability, age, migration status, or socioeconomic background
Legal strategies for inclusive justice systems

7. Countering Backlash Against Women’s Rights

Anti-gender movements
Disinformation and misinformation targeting gender equality
Legal resistance strategies

Programme Structure and Training Format

The WHRTI-10 programme uses a hybrid learning model, combining digital learning with immersive in-person training.

Training Components:

Online Courses (July & September 2026):
- Focus on technology-facilitated gender-based violence
- Interactive legal learning modules
- Case-based discussions and analysis
In-Person Training (November 2026):
- 6-day intensive session in Bulgaria
- Training in feminist legal theory
- Exposure to international human rights mechanisms
- Peer learning with global legal professionals

Financial Support and Benefits

Selected participants will receive full financial support, ensuring accessibility for qualified legal professionals regardless of economic background.

Programme Benefits:

Full tuition coverage
Travel costs to Bulgaria fully funded
Full-board accommodation during in-person training
Access to global legal and human rights networks
Advanced training in women’s rights litigation and advocacy
Membership in an international community of human rights lawyers

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is highly selective and targets legal professionals with demonstrated commitment to women’s rights.

Applicants must:

Be practising lawyers or legal experts
Have at least one year of affiliation with a legal advocacy institution
Demonstrate a strong commitment to women’s rights and gender equality
Be fluent in English
Be based primarily in Europe (especially CEE/NIS regions), with a limited number of participants from other regions

Application Process

Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
Applicants must submit the completed application form and supporting documents via email to:
- office@bgrf.org
- tishevagenoveva@abv.bg

Selection Timeline:

Shortlisted candidates contacted by: 25 June 2026
Online interviews conducted after shortlisting
Final selection communicated after interviews

Why WHRTI-10 Matters

The WHRTI programme plays a critical role in strengthening legal systems worldwide by equipping lawyers with the tools to defend women’s rights in courts, policy spaces, and international legal forums.

It directly contributes to: