HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

The Human Rights Advocates Program is now accepting applications for the 2005 program.
Applications are due by March 21, 2005.

Problem
Today, one of the greatest challenges faced by poorer countries is the impact of the global economy on their communities. Few of the leaders working in those communities have access to the institutions where the economic policies that affect their lives are made. Moreover, those who gain access are often not prepared with the knowledge, skills, and contacts necessary to influence the process.

Goals
Columbia University's Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from poor countries and communities in the US to participate in national and international policy debates on economic globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts. This group includes teachers, lawyers, social workers, community organizers, and journalists, who work on human rights problems that result from or are part of the global economic system.
An equally important part of the program is to promote debate and dialogue on the global economy between the grassroots leaders and the faculty and students at Columbia University , and in the NGO, policy-making and corporate communities.

Program Focus
The four-month New York-based intensive training program focuses on the following key areas of interest:

**Labor rights
**Migration
**Health
**Environmental justice
**Corporate social responsibility, with an emphasis on cross-cutting and sectoral issues such as human rights in the extractive industries or agriculture

Activists working on the above areas from a gender perspective are encouraged to apply.

Strategy
To achieve the program's goals, a wide range of activities are offered to participating advocates:

**Academic courses on international human rights standards and the impact of the global economy on human rights;
**Skills workshops on advocacy planning and strategies, fundraising, press and media, and building sustainable organizations;
**Meetings and networking opportunities with NGO and corporate leaders, public officials, representatives of International Financial Institutions, and United Nations staff central to the global economy in New York and Washington, DC.

Timing and Commitment
The 2005 HRAP will begin in late August and run until mid-December 2005. Participants must commit to fully take part in the program for its duration.

Participant Selection
The 2005 HRAP focuses on Human Rights Advocacy and the Global Economy. The program is designed for experienced lawyers, journalists, teachers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with non-governmental organizations in labor rights, migration, health, environmental justice and corporate social responsibility. Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience on human rights and the global economy, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to complete graduate level studies. Full-time students or government officials will not be considered. Advocates must secure institutional endorsement from their organizations for their participation in the program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the program. Advocates must also be originating from and residing in either a developing country or the United States . Fluency in English is required.

Funding
The estimate for each 2005 participant's total program costs including travel and accommodation in the United States is approximately $27,000. A limited number of fellowships will be offered each year.

Application Deadline & Notification
Completed applications are due on March 21, 2005. All items must be received by the application deadline. Applications may be sent by fax or email, although original copies of letters of recommendation should also be sent via surface mail. Please take into consideration the time it takes for international mail to arrive by post. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Please click here to download the 2005 application forms.

Admitted applicants will be notified of their acceptance by email or mail by June, when final decisions are made. We will make every effort to notify other applicants of their status by email however, due to the high volume of applications, candidates whose applications have been declined may not be notified until September.

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Margaret Ladner
Program Director
Human Rights Advocates Program
Center for the Study of Human Rights
1108 IAB, MC: 3365
Columbia University
New York, NY 10027
Tel: 212-854-3014 | Fax: 212-854-6785 | Email: [email protected] [2]
URL: www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights [3]