Tag Archives: human-rights

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FALL 2027 AND SPRING 2028 HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES PROGRAMS (HRAP)

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

LOCATION: USA

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is now accepting applications to the Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 programs. 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. 

ELIGIBILITY:

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. 

They cannot definitively assess your eligibility without reviewing your completed application. If you consider yourself eligible, please apply and demonstrate your eligibility in your answers to application questions.

BENEFIT:

Only a very limited number of full scholarships will be awarded. Other admitted applicants will be asked to cover expenses such as living expenses and a stipend.

APPLY

THE CNCDH 38th EDITION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE

Application Deadline: September 14, 2025

LOCATION: France

In 2025, for the 38th edition of the Human Rights Prize, the CNCDH will reward projects dedicated to the exploitation and trafficking of children. Every year, tens of millions of children (in the remainder of this text, “child” is understood to be a person under the age of 18, as defined in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child) are victims of trafficking and exploitation, although it is not possible to precisely estimate their number. According to the latest UNODC report (December 2024), the overall number of detected child victims of human trafficking and exploitation increased by 31% between 2019 and 2022, with a 38% increase recorded for girls. The number of victims is increasing as poverty, conflict, and climate change make more people vulnerable to exploitation. Children now account for 38% of detected victims.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Prize is open to both individuals and organizations, regardless of nationality or borders. It is possible to apply for several consecutive years. Members of the Commission are not eligible to apply. These suggestions do not preclude proposals from other members of the Commission.

Applicants are welcome to apply from individuals or non-governmental organizations with one or more field projects based on a human rights-based approach that aim to prevent and combat child trafficking and exploitation.

Applications will be considered if they aim, while respecting children’s rights, to:

provide comprehensive support for young people;

implement transformative and restorative actions;

ensure the active participation of the children themselves in the project.

The projects presented will focus on defending and protecting children against trafficking and exploitation through programs including:

raising awareness among the general public and authorities;

identifying and referring victims;

welcoming, supporting, and rehabilitating child victims;

training stakeholders (police, justice, medical-social sector, education, etc.);

advocating for the implementation of legal tools or the development of public policies to combat and prevent trafficking;

ensuring access to justice and reparations, etc.

Applications must comply with the Prize’s rules.

The Prize’s rules are available online. Candidates must submit their complete application before the submission deadline of September 14, 2025.

BENEFIT:

The five winners of the Human Rights Prize share a financial endowment of €70,000 and benefit from lifelong diplomatic protection from France. The endowment is awarded only to the winners; special mentions do not.

They are invited to France for the official presentation of the Prize by a member of the French Government on December 10. On the sidelines of this ceremony, these human rights defenders will meet with French institutional and civil society actors.

APPLY