Workshops and Trainings
The Annual Human Rights Institute
Application period is now closed
Hosted by HRP and the US Human Rights Network, the Human
Rights Institute (HRI) is an annual three- day long fellowship
program that equips participants with information on the human
rights framework and provides specific tools for applying the
framework to strengthen their local advocacy efforts around
economic and social justice, such as the human right to housing,
health, education, and decent work. The HRI is an intimate
and selective opportunity for participants to learn more about
human rights mechanisms, standards and laws; share their
knowledge, and; network with other organizations, including experts from the United Nations.
Each year approximately 15 Fellows are selected from throughout the country to participate in the HRI. Women of color and organizations working with women of color are especially encouraged to apply. Fellows have access to ongoing human rights education, such as periodic Webinars, and join a growing community of advocates and organizers who are pioneering the use of the human rights framework to advance issues of social and economic justice in the United States.
The next HRI is scheduled to take place on March 28-30, 2012. See Application Form here.
The application period closed on January 16, 2012. Selected fellows will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Registration Fee for accepted fellows: $100.00 (not covered by scholarship)
Additional information on the HRI Fellowship program:
Examples of Past HRI Programs:
Workshops:
- The Fundamentals of Human Rights: Economic and Social Rights
- Crafting a Human Rights Media Strategy to Advance Your Domestic Campaign
- Employing International Human Rights Mechanisms for Domestic Advocacy
- Political Strategy Session: Advancing a Domestic Human Rights Agenda in an Unfriendly Political Climate
Activities:
- United Nations Tour
- Lunch with UN delegates
- Reception with members of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
- Networking lunch with New York City advocacy groups
Ajamu Baraka, previously Executive Director of US Human Rights Network (USHRN)
Bill Perkins, New York State Senator
Elena Gastaldo, International Labor Organization
Laila Bourhil, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Mohammed Loulichki, Ambassador of Morocco
Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership
Risa Kaufman, Executive Director, Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School
Reverend Raymond Rivera, Latino Pastoral Action Center
Shulamith Koenig, The People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning
What Past Fellows Have Had to Say
“[I am] absolutely integrating the human rights model in every aspect of organizing”… “the tools provided were really thorough and helped us to move the process forward.”
Elce Redmond, Organizer,
South Austin Coalition
“I learned quite a bit about the UN and about how civil society can use it as a forum.”
Saladin Muhammad, Coordinator,
International Worker’s Justice Campaign
“I learned a lot”… “in this country, we don’t look at ourselves as having human rights violations, but we have many.”
Nathan Price,
DC Professional Taxicab Driver’s Association
Individuals interested in participating in the HRI Fellowship program must:
- Be a full-time employee or an active community volunteer (including board member, recognized advocate) with an organization engaged in social justice and/or human rights advocacy;
- Be sponsored by the organization to attend the Human Rights Institute;
- Be in a supervisory and/or decision-making position with the organization;
- Possess at least four years of social justice / human rights experience;
- Be involved in U.S. based, domestic advocacy (applicants working solely on international human rights issues will not be considered), and;
- Be available for the full 3-day long workshop in New York City (full participation is required in order to complete the Fellowship).
Priority consideration will be given for candidates whose sponsoring organization is:
- Membership-based; and/or
- Comprised of or working with women of color.
The next HRI is scheduled to take place on March 28-30, 2012. Application and Scholarship Information coming soon!
Other HRP Workshops
In addition to the HRI, HRP offers a range of workshops and learning opportunities at the local and national level on an ad hoc basis to introduce participants to human rights concepts and tools.
Introduction to Human Rights
This workshop is an introduction to basic human rights concepts including a brief overview of the use of human rights mechanisms and other UN processes.
CERD Shadow Reporting and Implementation
This workshop equips participants with information on using a human rights framework to advance racial justice. It includes an overview of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD); how to effectively engage in the shadow reporting process; and strategies for the domestic implementation of CERD both at the national, state and local levels.
Human Rights Advocacy
The Human Rights Advocacy workshop is designed to introduce participants to human rights concepts, methods and strategies that have proven successful in advancing local advocacy work, and to share innovative advocacy strategies that use the human rights framework.
Human Rights Documentation
The Human Rights Documentation workshop familiarizes participants with the concept of human rights documentation, and builds skill sets necessary for a successful human rights documentation project.
