Deadline: 15-Oct-23
The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is inviting applications for the Human Rights Advocates Program 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.
The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is a unique and successful model of human rights capacity building.
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 academic coursework, faculty mentoring, skills-building workshops, and networking
- Emphasis on individual and organizational capacity building
- Affiliation with Columbia University and location in New York
- Weeklong networking trip to Washington, D.C.
- Alumni body of 308 human rights advocates in more than 86 countries
Funding Criteria
- They welcome applications from qualified human rights advocates from all regions of the world.
- After ISHR conducts its stringent selection process, it makes every effort to secure funding for shortlisted Advocates to attend the program. In certain cases, where ISHR cannot secure funding, shortlisted Advocates may be asked to secure the funds needed for them to be admitted to the program.
- The generosity of the Arcus Foundation will make it possible for them to admit one qualified Trans Advocate from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean or Eastern and Southern Africa to the 2024 program.
- The generosity of other funders will also enable them to admit qualified Advocates working on LGBT and/or disability and/or SRHR rights in Latin America and/or Africa in the 2024 program. Additional donors will be identified to support outstanding applicants working on other human rights issues at the grassroots level around the globe.
- The generosity of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University will allow them to admit one advocate from Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe.
- The generosity of Ambassador Nicholas Platt in memory of his wife Sheila Platt will allow them to admit an advocate working with survivors of torture and/or in the field of social work. No geographic restrictions.
Selection of Participants
- The Program is designed for human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBTQI+ rights, labor rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate social accountability.
- Participants are selected on the basis of their work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students, academics, or government officials will not be considered. Applicants holding full-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. Fluency in English is required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had opportunities to travel and study internationally. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
- Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement in English 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.
For more information, visit Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR).