Founded in 1989, the Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is a unique and successful model of human rights capacity building. HRAP capitalizes on its affiliation with Columbia University and its location in New York City to provide grassroots leaders the tools, knowledge, access, and networks to promote the realization of human rights and strengthen their respective organizations.
HRAP’s comprehensive program of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework provides advocates the opportunity to hone practical skills, develop a deeper understanding of human rights, and foster mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and individuals in their respective fields.
Program Overview
After completing the intensive four-month program, Advocates are able to more effectively lobby for their causes and address the human rights concerns of their community. The comparative advantages of the Human Rights Advocates Program are its:
Comprehensive program of skills-building, networking, advocacy, and academic coursework
Emphasis on individual and organizational capacity building
Affiliation with Columbia University and location in New York
Skills-Building
Advocates attend a number of skills-building workshops led by staff from organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The workshops strengthen their effectiveness as individual advocates and allow them to build stronger organizations in their respective home countries. Topics include fundraising, campaign strategy, advocacy tools, media relations, stress management and research and documentation.
Throughout the four-month program, Advocates are able to meet with a range of human rights organizations, international institutions, foundations, donors, and policymakers that are based in New York City. Each year, Advocates also participate in a networking and advocacy trip to Washington DC.
During group and individual meetings, Advocates share their unique grassroots knowledge and learn more about the strategies and best practices of other human rights organizations. These meetings also often lead to joint projects and funding opportunities.
Student Life in New York City
HRAP integrates Advocates into various aspects of student life. Advocates reside at International House with international and US students and participate in a range of social, learning and cultural activities organized by International House and Columbia University.
Human Rights Advocates Program
Other Advocates
The four-month program gives Advocates time and space to reflect on their work and share their experiences and insights with one another. HRAP also facilitates relationship-building among alumni of the program. For example, since 2010, the Director of Capacity Building has been recruiting HRAP alumni to lead workshops for program participants.
Unique Access to Advocacy Forums
Advocates are frequently invited to participate and attend panel discussions and lectures, both at Columbia University and throughout the United States. During such events, Advocates are able to raise public awareness and promote the work of their organizations.
Columbia University
Advocates audit at least two graduate level courses at Columbia University. Advocates attend classes at the School of International and Public Affairs, the Law School, the Mailman School of Public Health, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciencees, the School of Social Work, Teachers College and Barnard. Each Advocate is assigned a Columbia University professor as mentor. Advocates often develop strong relationships with professors, students, and other members of the Columbia University community.
HRAP’s comprehensive program of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework provides advocates the opportunity to hone practical skills, develop a deeper understanding of human rights, and foster mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and individuals in their respective fields.
Program Overview
After completing the intensive four-month program, Advocates are able to more effectively lobby for their causes and address the human rights concerns of their community. The comparative advantages of the Human Rights Advocates Program are its:
Comprehensive program of skills-building, networking, advocacy, and academic coursework
Emphasis on individual and organizational capacity building
Affiliation with Columbia University and location in New York
Skills-Building
Advocates attend a number of skills-building workshops led by staff from organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The workshops strengthen their effectiveness as individual advocates and allow them to build stronger organizations in their respective home countries. Topics include fundraising, campaign strategy, advocacy tools, media relations, stress management and research and documentation.
Throughout the four-month program, Advocates are able to meet with a range of human rights organizations, international institutions, foundations, donors, and policymakers that are based in New York City. Each year, Advocates also participate in a networking and advocacy trip to Washington DC.
During group and individual meetings, Advocates share their unique grassroots knowledge and learn more about the strategies and best practices of other human rights organizations. These meetings also often lead to joint projects and funding opportunities.
Student Life in New York City
HRAP integrates Advocates into various aspects of student life. Advocates reside at International House with international and US students and participate in a range of social, learning and cultural activities organized by International House and Columbia University.
Human Rights Advocates Program
Other Advocates
The four-month program gives Advocates time and space to reflect on their work and share their experiences and insights with one another. HRAP also facilitates relationship-building among alumni of the program. For example, since 2010, the Director of Capacity Building has been recruiting HRAP alumni to lead workshops for program participants.
Unique Access to Advocacy Forums
Advocates are frequently invited to participate and attend panel discussions and lectures, both at Columbia University and throughout the United States. During such events, Advocates are able to raise public awareness and promote the work of their organizations.
Columbia University
Advocates audit at least two graduate level courses at Columbia University. Advocates attend classes at the School of International and Public Affairs, the Law School, the Mailman School of Public Health, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciencees, the School of Social Work, Teachers College and Barnard. Each Advocate is assigned a Columbia University professor as mentor. Advocates often develop strong relationships with professors, students, and other members of the Columbia University community.
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 250 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, Amnesty International-USA 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.
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.
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 250 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, Amnesty International-USA 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 2013 HRAP will begin in the latter half of August and run until mid-December 2013. To be considered, participants must commit to full preparation for and complete engagement in the Program.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.
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 16,
2012. 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 17, September 14, October 12, and November 9. 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, November 8. 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 2013 of their status. Please be patient as the selection and funding processes are lengthy.
