The 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES PROGRAM application is now open.
Selection of Participants
The Program is designed for human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, 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 Frequently Asked Questions (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 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 no one else from the organization has applied.
Funding
We 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 us to admit one qualified LGBT Advocate from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean or Eastern and Southern Africa to the 2020 program.
The generosity of other funders will also enable us to admit qualified Advocates working on LGBT and/or disability and/or SRHR rights in Latin America and/or Africa in the 2020 program. Additional donors will be identified to support outstanding applicants working on other human rights issues at the grassroots level around the globe.
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.
In order to access the application, applicants must register an account on the ISHR website and log in. Once logged in, applicants can begin a new application by choosing Start/Resume An HRAP Application from the menu.
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.
After beginning an application, the applicant can either choose to save the form as a draft, or submit a completed application. If you choose to save the form as a draft, you can return to this page to complete it. Upon submission of a completed application, a confirmation will be sent to the applicant. Applicants may login to the online application to view or edit their submitted applications until the deadline.
To edit complete submitted applications, log in to the ISHR website and choose Manage HRAP Submission.
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.
If you would rather submit the application by international courier at your own expense, please send a completed copy of this PDF application and all supporting documentation including the reference letters via international courier such as FedEx to Columbia University, 1108 IAB, MC 3365, New York, NY 10027 USA. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is received by Columbia no later than December 16, 2019.
Deadline
The 2020 HRAP application is now open. We will be accepting applications through December 16, 2019.