Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Open to: Grassroots human rights advocates employed by NGOs, working directly with marginalized communities, with institutional support from their organization.
Benefits: Intensive capacity-building at Columbia University, mentorship, access to global networks, and in limited cases, full scholarships covering program costs.

Description

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is a pioneering initiative established to strengthen the skills, strategies, and networks of frontline human rights defenders worldwide. Running since 1989, HRAP brings advocates to New York for a semester-long immersion in advanced capacity-building. Participants engage in tailored workshops, research collaborations, and institutional networking, with the aim of amplifying their work upon returning to their home countries. The 2026–27 program continues this legacy by focusing on grassroots empowerment, knowledge exchange, and practical training that directly benefit NGOs and the communities they serve.

Eligibility

The program is open to mid-career professionals such as lawyers, journalists, teachers, doctors, social workers, and grassroots activists actively employed by NGOs addressing issues like gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, health, migration, social exclusion, environmental justice, and corporate accountability. Applicants must:

• Be employed full-time at a grassroots NGO and present a letter of institutional endorsement from their organization.
• Commit to returning to their home NGO after the program.
• Demonstrate strong experience in human rights advocacy and the ability to work in graduate-level environments.
• Have fluency in English.
• Come from a non-high-income country (exceptions apply only if representing marginalized communities).
  Students, government officials, and applicants without organizational backing are not eligible.

Benefits

HRAP offers a unique opportunity to:

• Participate in advanced workshops on advocacy, strategic litigation, project design, fundraising, and psychosocial resilience.
• Gain access to Columbia University’s academic resources, including libraries, faculty mentorship, and specialized lectures.
• Build long-term partnerships with human rights organizations and networks in New York and globally.
• Strengthen personal advocacy projects through tailored research and field exposure.
• Receive limited full scholarships; other admitted applicants must arrange funding to cover living expenses and stipends.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must complete the online application via the Columbia HRAP portal: Register and Apply. Applicants should prepare:

• A detailed CV highlighting human rights work.
• A personal statement describing advocacy goals and how HRAP will strengthen their impact.
• Two recommendation letters (ideally from outside their current organization).
• A formal letter of institutional support from their employing NGO.
  Applications must be completed and submitted before the official deadline, as no late or incomplete submissions will be accepted. Applicants can save and return to their applications before the system closes on the deadline.

Contact Information

For questions, applicants may contact the program team at: hradvocates@columbia.edu.

For more information, visit the official website.