Call for Applications: ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP)

Get latest opportunities in your email

---

Join Our Telegram Channel

About ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is now open for applications to the 2026-27 program. 

Founded in 1989, HRAP leverages the resources of Columbia University and those offered by NYC as a hub of NGOs and international organizations to provide human rights advocates with academic, skill-building, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Through seminars, participation in University courses, and workshops led by staff from leading human rights organizations as well as meetings with policymakers and funders, advocates share their experiences, reflect critically on their work, and plan future campaigns. 

More than 350 advocates from 100 countries have attended the program since it was created in 1989. The cumulative reach of HRAP participants is extraordinary: alumni have worked with organizations whose memberships range from the thousands to the millions. They can be found at prominent human rights organizations, serving in their national governments and at the UN, teaching at universities around the globe, and serving on the frontlines of human rights in an effort to make a more just and peaceful world.

• Sponsor Organisation: Institute for Study of Human Rights

Benefits of ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program

• 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. 

ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program Requirements

• The Program is designed for human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBTQI+ rights, labor rights, indigenous peoples' rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate social accountability.
• Participants are selected on the basis of their work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students, academics, or government officials will not be considered. Applicants holding full-time jobs pursuing their advocacy efforts are preferred.
• Advocates must work at the grassroots level. Applicants from high-income countries will not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities. (See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about this requirement). Fluency in English is required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had opportunities to travel and study internationally. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement in English from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. 

Application Date and Process

Applicants are asked to complete the application in its entirety. The entire application including attachments must be in English. 

In order to access the application, applicants must register an account on the ISHR website and log in. Once logged in, applicants can begin a new application by choosing Start/Resume A HRAP Application from the menu. Please follow all instructions, including those sent to your email address.

After beginning an application, the applicant can either choose to save the form as a draft, or submit a completed application. If you choose to save the form as a draft, you can return to this page to complete it.  Upon submission of a completed application, a confirmation will be sent to the applicant. Applicants may login to the online application to view or edit their submitted applications until the deadline. 

To edit or complete submitted applications, log in to the ISHR website and choose Manage HRAP Submission.

Columbia University aims to make all websites fully accessible to users with disabilities. If you experience difficulty using this page, please contact [email protected].

Application Deadline

01 December, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program

Apply for ISHR Human Rights Advocates Program