March 2004

Dear colleagues:

The Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University is pleased
to announce this call for applications for the 2004 Human Rights Advocates
Program. We encourage you to widely disseminate this application to human
rights activists based in developing countries, as well as grassroots
activists in the United States.

The Human Rights Advocates Program was established in 1989 to build the
capacity of grassroots activists worldwide so that they can more effectively
address pressing human rights concerns and build linkages with the global
human rights community. To date, nearly 200 leading human rights activists
from more than 60 countries have participated in the program and are now
affecting change in their communities, both locally and globally.

Beginning this year, the Center is launching a new phase of the program by
focusing specifically on advancing human rights thinking and activism with
respect to the global economy. The Initiative on Human Rights Advocacy and
the Global Economy: Human Rights Advocates Program builds on the success of
the now 15 year-old Advocates Program, featuring a program of advocacy,
skill-building, and scholarship through a four-month intensive training
program in New York.

The initiative seeks to integrate grassroots human rights leaders and
activists into national and international policy-making discussions and
processes related to globalization, in order to influence global economic
decision-making in favor of more effective and rights-responsive policies.
In addition to completing a tailored academic and skill-building program at
Columbia, participants engage in dialogue with key figures leading debates
on globalization in government, business and the NGO sector. They also
share insights and strategies with one another, creating lasting
partnerships with counterparts from other regions. At the conclusion of the
US-based program, the Center continues to partner with these grassroots
leaders and their organizations to further the development of research and
advocacy strategies as well as new intellectual paradigms in human rights.

>From 2004 - 2006 the Initiative on Human Rights Advocacy and the Global
Economy will focus on the following key sub-themes of interest:
· Labor rights
· Migration
· Health
· Environmental justice
· Corporate social responsibility, including 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.

As a direct result of this initiative, the Center will develop a cadre of
leaders from multiple regions working on issues of human rights and
globalization. During the New York-based residency, the activists will
interact and reflect on pressing issues, learn lessons from each other,
develop concrete skills and raise money for future activism. They will
solidify ties with key allies and engage in advocacy to advance concrete
solutions to the challenges of globalization.

The Program is designed for 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 one of the above topics, 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. Activists must also be
originating from and residing in either a developing country or the United
States. Fluency in English is required.

Complete application should be submitted no later than April 15, 2004. Late
or incomplete applications received after the deadline will not be
considered. The 2004 program will take place from September to December
this year and will admit up to ten applicants.

Attached please find the 2004 program application form. It is also
available on-line at www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights/training/training.htm.
A list of past program participants can also be found on our website.

For more information, please visit www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights or email
[email protected].