[afro-nets] Columbia Human Rights Program: Call for applications

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Columbia Human Rights Program: Call for applications
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From: Anant Bhan

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 dis-
seminate this application to human rights activists based in de-
veloping 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 af-
fecting 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: Hu-
man 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 lead-
ers 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 ef-
fective and rights-responsive policies. In addition to complet-
ing 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, creat-
ing 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 in-
terest:

* Labor rights
* Migration
* Health
* Environmental justice
* Corporate social responsibility, including sectoral issues
   such as human rights in the extractive industries or agricul-
   ture.

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 hu-
man rights and globalization. During the New York-based resi-
dency, the activists will interact and reflect on pressing is-
sues, 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, com-
munity organizers, and other human rights activists working with
non-governmental organizations in labor rights, migration,
health, environmental justice and corporate social responsibil-
ity. 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 gradu-
ate level studies. Full-time students or government officials
will not be considered. Advocates must secure institutional en-
dorsement 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 originat-
ing 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 dead-
line will not be considered. The 2004 program will take place
from September to December this year and will admit up to ten
applicants.

Download the 2004 program application form on-line at:
http://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
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights
or
mailto:hradvocates@columbia.edu


With warm regards,

Holly Bartling
Director of Training
Center for the Study of Human Rights
Columbia University
1108 IAB, MC: 3365
New York, NY 10027, USA
Tel: +1-212-854-3014
Fax: +1-212-854-6785
mailto:hmb61@columbia.edu
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights