Dear friends and colleagues:
I am delighted to announce that the application for the 2008 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University is now available. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to disseminate this information and application to human rights activists based in the Global South as well as grassroots activists in the United States.
HRAP is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from the Global South and marginalized communities in the U.S. to participate in national and international policy debates on globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts. The Program features a four-month residency at Columbia University in New York City with a structured curriculum of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic
coursework.
Since 2004, HRAP has concentrated its support on individuals and organizations that address issues broadly related to globalization.
The four-month intensive capacity building program based at Columbia University in New York focuses on the following key issue areas:
* Environmental injustice
* Labor rights violations
* Abuses by multinational corporations
* Ramifications of resource extraction
* Public health crises
* Unsustainable development
* Intolerance, xenophobia, and social exclusion related to globalization
Special attention is given to the above issues and their intersection with gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, and/or other sources of marginalization.
HRAP's current focus has emerged in recent years as a response to the negative effects of globalization on those with the least access to decision-making processes. Given their physical and symbolic distance from centers of power, grassroots leaders are typically unable to lobby for equitable outcomes from global policymakers.
The design of HRAP is intended to help level the playing field for those lacking the access and relevant skills or knowledge to lobby effectively for their causes. The Program provides advanced training, support, and networking opportunities to respected human rights leaders. The focus is both on strengthening the skills of the individual Advocates and providing tools to build sustainable organizations that advocate for disadvantaged peoples.
Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience on human rights and globalization, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to complete graduate-level studies. Advocates must originate from and reside in either the Global South or the United States. Fluency in English is required. 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.
This extremely competitive Program will admit approximately ten participants. We make every effort to provide full fellowships to cover program costs as well as travel and living expenses for selected Advocates each year. Our staff will work with interested candidates who have been waitlisted for the Program to identify potential funding sources in cases where we do not yet have the resources to provide a full fellowship.
Attached please find an overview of the Program and the 2008 application form. The 2008 HRAP will take place from the middle of August to the middle of December 2008. The completed application is due by October 9, 2007. Those who make it to the second round of the application process will be asked to submit additional materials including essays and letters of reference. Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
For further information or to download additional copies of the application, please refer to our website at http://humanrights. columbia. edu/hrap/ .
Additional information can be requested by email from hradvocates@ columbia. edu, by phone at +1 (212) 854 7372, or by fax at +1 (212) 316 4578.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Ladner
Director, Capacity Building Programs
Center for the Study of Human Rights
Columbia University
[sursa e-nass]
If you want to receive academic resources in your e-mail on daily basis, please subscribe to 10resources-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
