In 2004, the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University launched a new initiative to advance human rights thinking and activism with respect to the global economy. The program's current focus on Human Rights Advocacy and the Global Economy builds on the Center's highly successful Human Rights Advocates Program, featuring a program of
advocacy, skill-building, and scholarship through a four-month intensive training program in New York City.

Columbia University's Human Rights Advocates Program is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from poor countries and communities in the US to participate in national and international policy debates on economic globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts. An equally important part of the program is to promote debate and dialogue on the global economy between the grassroots leaders and faculty and students at Columbia University, and in the NGO, policy-making and corporate communities.

The current focus of the Human Rights Advocates Program seeks to cover key impacts of the global economy, particularly impacts on the following issue areas:

• 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.

The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, teachers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with non-governmental organizations who work on human rights problems that result from or are part of the global economic system.

Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience on human rights and the global economy, 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.

This extremely competitive program will admit up to ten applicants. The program will take place from late August to the middle of December 2005.

Enclosed please find an overview of the program and the 2005 application form. The completed application is due by March 21, 2005. 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://www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights/training/adv/hradv_pgm.htm.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Ladner
Director, Human Rights Advocates Program
Center for the Study of Human Rights
Columbia University