Overview      The  Human  Rights  Advocates  Program  (HRAP)  is  a  unique  and  successful  model  of  human  rights  capacity  building  based  at  Columbia  University  in  New  York  City.  More  than  300  Advocates  from  over  80  countries  have  participated  in  this  program  since  1989.  Details  about  the  program  structure  and  activities  can  be  found  on  the  HRAP  Overview  page  and  the  HRAP  Pillars  page.  You  can  also  read  about  past  participants  on  the  Advocates  page.    Before  beginning  an  application,  be   sure   to  visit   the  Admissions   Information  page  for  details  on  the  selection  process  and  funding.    The  program  begins  in  late  August  and  ends  in  mid-­‐December.  It  is  an  in-­‐residence  program,  and  you  must  be  able  to  live  in  New  York  for  the  full  length  of  the  program  in  order  to  participate.    Application  Instructions    Applicants  are  asked  to  complete  the  application  in  its  entirety.  Please  complete  all  sections  in  English.  Please  follow  all  instructions,  including  those  sent  to  your  email  address.    Upon   submission   of   a   completed   application,   a   confirmation   will   be   sent   to   the  applicant.   Applicants   may   also   login   to   the   online   application   to   view   their  submitted  applications.  As  stated  in  the  application,  the  submission  of  applications  is  final.  A  submitted  application  cannot  be  altered  or  appended.    Supporting  Documentation    Two   signed   letters   of   recommendation   are   required.   Unsigned   letters  will   not   be  accepted   and   your   entire   application   will   be   removed   from   consideration.   The  recommenders  must   provide   their   contact   information   (phone   number   and   email  address).   You   cannot   submit   the   proof   of   institutional   endorsement   as   one   of   the  letters.  The   letters  must  be   in  English.  They  must  be   from  those  who  can  attest   to  your   work   as   a   human   rights   advocate.   Your   letters   of   recommendation   weigh  heavily  in  our  consideration.  Please  reach  out  to  potential  recommenders  in  a  timely  fashion.  Most  recommenders  require  at  least  one  month's  notices.      

Program  Application  

2   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION    Application  Deadline  &  Notification    The   completed   application   must   be   submitted   online   by   the   deadline.   Applicants  should  take  into  consideration  technical  issues  and  begin  the  process  in  advance  of  the   deadline.   The   online   application   system   will   automatically   close   as   of   this  deadline.  Applicants  will  be  notified  in  June  of  their  status.    Please  be  patient  as  the  selection  and  funding  processes  are  lengthy.    Application  Questions  &  Technical  Help    A  Frequently  Asked  Questions   (FAQ)  page   is   available  with  answers   to   commonly  asked   questions.   If   you   experience   technical   problems   accessing,   saving,   or  submitting   a   form,   please   email   hradvocates@columbia.edu.   Columbia   University  aims  to  make  all  websites  fully  accessible  to  users  with  disabilities.  If  you  experience  difficulty  using  this  page,  please  contact  hradvocates@columbia.edu.    We   strongly   recommend   completing   your   application   well   in   advance   of   this   the  application   deadline.   We   will   not   accept   late   applications,   even   in   the   event   of  technical  problems.            Signature           Print  name         Date                      Personal  Information    Family/Last  Name      Given/First  Name      Middle  Name      Preferred  Name  Please  include  your  preferred  name  if  different  from  above.      

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   3  

 Gender      Country  of  Citizenship      City  of  Birth      Country  of  Birth      Date  of  Birth      Residence  Street  Address      Residence  City      Residence  State/Province      Postal  Code      Country  of  Residence      Email      Alternate  Personal  Email      Telephone      Skype  Username                

4   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION    How  did  you  learn  about  HRAP?  How  did  you  learn  of  the  Human  Rights  Advocates  Program?  If    applicable,    please  give  the  website  address,   name   and   country   of   the   HRAP   alumnus,   the   name   and   title   of   the   Columbia   University  alumnus,  faculty,  or  staff,  etc.                                Do  you  know  an  HRAP  alumnus?  Do   you   have   a   professional   or   personal   relationship   with   a   previous   HRAP   participant?   Please  provide  that  person’s  name  and  describe  the  relationship?                                  Do  you  have  an  existing  Columbia  University  Relationship?  Do  you  have  a  professional  or  personal  relationship  with  any  Columbia  faculty,  Columbia  students,  or  Columbia  alumni?  If  so,  please  provide  that  person’s  name  and  describe  the  relationship.                

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   5  

   Why  did  you  become  an  advocate?  Please  explain  what  led  you  to  become  a  human  rights  advocate?                                Why  HRAP?  Please  indicate  why  you  think  HRAP  will  meet  your  needs  and  your  organization’s  needs.                      Primary  Organization  Information    Name  of  Organization      Year  Organization  Founded      Organization  Street  Address      Organization  City      Organization  State/Province  

6   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION        Organization  Postal  Code      Organization  Country      Organization  Phone      Organization  Email      Organization  Website      Organization  Work  and  Mission    Please  describe  the  work  and  mission  of  the  organization  for  which  you  work.                          Number  of  Staff      Number  of  Volunteers  If  applicable      Organization  Annual  Budget  In  US  Dollars                  

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   7  

 Primary  Funding  Sources  Please  name  your  organization’s  donors.                    Your  Title  What  is  your  professional  title  within  the  organization?      Country  Where  You  Work      Starting  Date      Type  of  Employment        If  other,  please  explain.                                            

8   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION        Issue  Areas  Please  select  only  three.    Other  

Children’s  Rights  

Conflict  Resolution  

Corporate  Accountability  

Democratization  

Disability  Rights  

Education  

Environmental  Justice  

Health  

HIV/AIDS  

Identity/Social  Exclusion  

Indigenous  Rights  

Labor  Rights  

LGBTI  Rights  

Migration  

Peace-­‐building  

Prison  Reform  

Sexual  and  Gender-­‐Based  Violence  

Transitional  Justice  

Women’s  Rights  

 If  other,  please  describe.                  How  do  you  address  these  issues?  Briefly  explain  exactly  how  you  and  your  organization  address  the  issue  areas  marked  above.                                

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   9  

   Which  communities  do  you  serve?  Briefly  describe  the  communities  you  serve.  Please  describe  the  major  problems  or  issues  you  seek  to  address  on  behalf  of  or  with  these  communities.                                Problems  and  Solutions  What  are  the  causes  of  these  problems?  What  are  the  potential  solutions  and  who  has  the  power  to  make  these  solutions  a  reality?                          Strategy  What  is  your  strategy  for  realizing  the  solutions  and  influencing  those  with  the  power  to  make  these  changes?  What  are  you  doing  at  this  moment  in  time  to  address  the  problem?  Please  give  an  example  of  current  project.                        

10   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION      Responsibilities  and  Challenges  Briefly   describe   your   responsibilities  within   your   organization   and   the   greatest   challenge(s)   as   an  individual  you  face  in  your  work.                              Your  Advocacy  Path  Please  explain  how  you  plan  to  develop  you  advocacy  path  in  the  next  2  to  5  years.  Please  be  specific.                                                            

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   11  

   Organizational  Affiliations  If  you  or  your  primary  organization  has  a  relationship  with  any  of  the  following  organizations,  please  select  and  provide  details  on  the  affiliation(s)  in  the  box  below.      American  Jewish  World  Service  (AJWS)  

Amnesty  International  (AI)  

Ford  Foundation  

Frontline  Defenders  

Fund  for  Global  Human  Rights  

Global  Fund  for  Women  

Human  Rights  Watch  (HRW)  

International  Center  for  Transitional  Justice  (ICTJ)  

National  Endowment  for  Democracy  (NED)  

Open  Society  Foundations  (OSF)  

Oxfam  

RFK  Center  for  Justice  and  Human  Rights  

WITNESS    Explanation  of  Affiliation(s)  Give   detailed   information,   including   contact   names,   on   your   relationship  with   those   organizations  you  selected  above.  (Did  you  cooperate  on  a  report?  Did  you  receive  funding?  Please  be  specific.)                  Additional  Organizational  Affiliations  Detail  other  relevant  affiliations  you  currently  have.  Please  explain  if  you  serve  as  a  board  member,  or  are  acting  as  a  consultant,  trainer,  volunteer,  etc.                                

12   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION    Collaborating  Organizations  Please  list  any  international  organizations  with  which  you  and  your  organization  have  been  working  or  collaborating.  You  should  fill  this  out  only  for  organizations  not  listed  above.              English  Proficiency    Speaking    None  

Beginner  

Proficient  

Fluent  

     

Reading    None  

Beginner  

Proficient  

Fluent  

     

Writing    None  

Beginner  

Proficient  

Fluent  

     

How  did  you  learn  English  (if  it  is  not  your  first  language)?              Education    Title/Name  of  Highest  Degree      Date  of  Graduation      Name  of  Institution      Institution  City      Institution  Country      

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   13  

 Other  Degree(s)  Please  list  and  describe  any  other  academic  degrees  you  hold.                Travel  Experience    Countries  Visited                Travel  Explanation  Please  list  the  dates  and  purposes  of  your  visits  to  each  of  the  countries  listed  above.                        Funding    After  ISHR  conducts   its  stringent  selection  process,   it  makes  every  effort  to  secure  funding   for   shortlisted   Advocates   to   attend   the   program.   In   certain   cases   where  ISHR  cannot  secure  funding,  shortlisted  Advocates  may  be  asked  to  secure  the  funds  needed  for  them  to  be  admitted  to  the  program.    In   the   event   that   full   funding   is   not   available,   I   am   able   to   provide   full/partial  funding  from  another  source.    I  would  only  like  to  be  considered  for  full  funding.      

14   HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION    

Application  Files    Please  provide  links  about  you  and  your  work  E.g.  LinkedIn,  blogs,  you  or  your  organization  in  the  news,  etc.                    Submit  your  curriculum  vitae  or  resume    Include  dates  and  locations  for  all  activities.    Please  send  as  one  of  the  following  file  types:  .pdf,  .doc,  .docx,  or  .rtf.  PDF  files  are  highly  recommended.        Submit  your  institutional  statement  of  support.    On   institutional   letterhead,   the   director   of   your   organization,   your   immediate  supervisor,   or   the   organization   through   which   you   will   implement   the   Project   is  requested  to  write  and  sign  a  letter  of  support  indicating  the  following:    

1. The  applicant’s  title  and  length  of  employment  with  the  organization;  2. The  applicant’s  primary  job  responsibilities;  3. Why  the  organization  decided  to  support  this  applicant  for  HRAP;  4. How  this  Program  is  expected  to  benefit  the  applicant,  her/his  organization,  

and  the  broader  human  rights  community  in  which  he/she  works;  5. Arrangements   that   will   be   made   to   cover   the   applicant’s  

post/responsibilities  if  he/she  is  selected  for  the  Program;  6. How  the  applicant’s  duties  are  expected  to  change  after  his/her  participation  

in  HRAP.    PDF  files  are  highly  preferred.                      

HUMAN  RIGHTS  ADVOCATES  PROGRAM  APPLICATION   15  

     Recommendations    Two   signed   letters   of   recommendation   are   required.   Unsigned   letters  will   not   be  accepted   and   your   entire   application   will   be   removed   from   consideration.   The  recommenders  must   provide   their   contact   information   (phone   number   and   email  address).   You   cannot   submit   the   proof   of   institutional   endorsement   as   one   of   the  recommendation   letters.   All   letters  must   be   in   English.   They  must   be   from   those  who   can   attest   to   your   work   as   a   human   rights   advocate.   Your   letters   of  recommendation  weigh  heavily   in  our  consideration.  Please  reach  out   to  potential  recommenders  in  a  timely  fashion.  Most  recommenders  require  at  least  one  month's  notices.  PDF  files  highly  preferred.      Recommendation  Letter  No.  1  Please  include  the  contact  details  for  recommender.    Reference  Last  Name      Reference  First  Name      Reference  Email          Recommendation  Letter  No.  2  Please  include  the  contact  details  for  recommender.    Reference  Last  Name      Reference  First  Name      Reference  Email            

 

             

               

                 

www.humanrightscolumbia.org