The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is a capacity building
program designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and networks of
proven human rights defenders at the grassroots level. Applicants from
high-income countries will not be considered except for those
representing marginalized communities.
Founded in 1989, HRAP leverages the resources of Columbia University
and those offered by New York City as a center of NGOs and
international organizations to provide proven grassroots leaders with
critical skills-building and networking opportunities. Through
workshops, seminars, participation in University classes and other
activities as well as meetings with policy makers and potential funders,
Advocates share their experiences, reflect critically on their
strategies, and plan future campaigns. More than 260 advocates from
over 80 countries have participated in this program since 1989. The
cumulative reach of HRAP participants is extraordinary: alumni have
worked with organizations whose memberships range from the thousands to
the millions.
HRAP is fortunate to partner with numerous advocacy organizations
to offer a full curriculum of training opportunities. That
organizations such as Human Rights Watch and WITNESS commit resources
to working with HRAP is indicative of both their respect for the
Advocates and the Program and of the benefits they feel they themselves
derive from such participation.
Program Focus
HRAP focuses both on strengthening the skills of the individual
Advocates and providing the tools for them to build sustainable
organizations that advocate for disadvantaged peoples.
Strategy
To meet HRAP’s goals, Advocates are expected to participate fully in the offerings provided by HRAP, including:
- Skills workshops on advocacy planning and strategies, fundraising, press and media, and building sustainable organizations;
- Columbia University courses on human rights, public health, the environment, development, and labor rights;
- Meetings and networking opportunities with NGO staff, activists, policymakers, representatives of international institutions, and academics.
Timing and Commitment
The appyear HRAP will begin in the latter half of August and run
until mid-December appyear. To be considered, participants must commit
to full preparation for and complete engagement in the Program.
Participants must be committed to returning home for at least two full
years after the Program ends.
About the Institute for the Study of Human Rights
Since its establishment at Columbia University in 1978, the
Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) has been committed to its
core goals of providing human rights education to Columbia students,
fostering innovative interdisciplinary academic research, and offering
its expertise in international capacity building to human rights
leaders and organizations.
ISHR actively works to ensure that local peoples and human rights
advocates are included in the political and economic policy decisions
that affect their lives.
By convening faculty, students, and human rights leaders from a
wide variety of backgrounds, ISHR creates an environment in which
research, education, and international outreach contribute to the
establishment of a more just and equitable world.
Admissions Information
Selection of Participants
The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers,
social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists
working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence,
domestic violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights,
migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, and
corporate social accountability.
Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work
experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and
demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time
students or government officials will not be considered. Applicants
holding full or part-time jobs pursuing their advocacy efforts are
preferred.
Advocates must work at the grassroots level. Applicants from
high-income countries will not be considered except for those
representing marginalized communities. See the FAQ
for more information about this requirement. Fluency in English is
required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had
opportunities to travel and study internationally.
Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement from their
organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit
to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. Only
one application per organization should be submitted. More than one
application means all applications from that organization will be
disqualified. It is up to the applicant to make sure he/she is the sole
applicant from his/her organization.
Funding
ISHR makes every effort to provide full fellowships to cover program
costs as well as travel and housing. A reasonable stipend is also
provided to cover basic costs. ISHR staff will work with interested
candidates who have been wait listed for the Program to identify
potential funding sources in cases where ISHR has not secured the
resources to provide a full fellowship.
Application Deadline
Completed applications are due by 11:59pm GMT on Friday, November 1,
2013. The completed application must be submitted online by the
deadline. Applicants should take into consideration technical issues
and begin the process in advance of the deadline. The online
application system will automatically close as of this deadline.
Technical Questions and Application Help
Due to the number of applications we receive, we are not able to answer application questions personally. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is available with answers to commonly asked questions. Please email further questions to hradvocates@columbia.edu.
Answers to these questions will be added as updates to the FAQ page on
August 16, September 13, October 11, and October 25. To receive an
answer by one of these deadlines, please be certain to send questions at
least one full day in advance. Please note that the last day to request
technical assistance will be Thursday, October 24. ISHR strongly
recommends completing your application well in advance of this date. We
will not be able to accept late applications, even in the event of
technical problems.
Application Accessibility
Columbia University aims to make all websites fully accessible to
users with disabilities. If you experience difficulty using this page,
please contact hradvocates@columbia.edu.
Application Instructions
Applicants are asked to complete the application in its entirety.
Please complete all sections in English. Please follow all instructions,
including those sent to your email address.
Upon submission of a completed application, a confirmation will be
sent to the applicant. Applicants may also login to the online
application to view their submitted applications. As stated in the
application, the submission of applications is final. A submitted
application cannot be altered or appended.
Supporting Documentation
Recommendation letters must be in English and must
be signed. Unsigned letters will not be accepted and your entire
application will be removed from consideration.
If you have cooperated with an international organization, you must
obtain a reference letter from someone you worked with at that
organization.
If you know someone at Columbia University, you must give their name and the nature of your relationship.
Application Status Notification
Applicants will be notified in June 2014 of their status. Please be patient as the selection and funding processes are lengthy.
