Columbia University has an exceptional international reputation in human rights education earned through decades of highly respected training of human rights professionals, innovative research by faculty in many academic departments, and an overall commitment to the interdisciplinary study and practice of human rights.
ISHR is committed to promoting excellent education programs that draw on these strengths. As the focal point for the study of human rights at Columbia University, ISHR is directly responsible for several human rights education programs, including:
We coordinate with programs and institutes across Columbia's campus and the human rights community in New York and more broadly in order to provide rigorous academic and professional training for students, support innovative scholarship and teaching of human rights, and spearhead initiatives that facilitate engagement between practitioners, faculty and scholars, students, and alumni.
The Human Rights Graduate Group picnics at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Some of the many resources available to undergraduate and graduate students include professional development events and support; funding for research, internships and conference participation; student groups; contests and prizes; and the human rights blog RightsViews.
To learn more, we encourage you to read student and alumni highlights.
In addition to offering the aforementioned programs, ISHR engages in human rights education training and advocacy in collaboration with other programs, schools, NGOs and foundations. For example, through the University Human Rights Education in Myanmar project, ISHR is working to develop the capacity of law faculty in Myanmar to teach human rights. ISHR is also a member of Human Rights Educators USA and the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education.
