2022-23 Advocate Marine Kapanadze sent the following reflection on her time in HRAP.
When I reflect on the time I spent at Columbia University as part of the 2022-23 Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP), I can confidently say it was one of the most transformative and empowering periods of my professional life. My time in New York City was not only intellectually enriching, but it also provided me with practical skills and personal growth that continue to shape my work as a human rights lawyer and civic space defender in Georgia.
The HRAP experience gave me far more than academic insight—it helped me develop a deeper understanding of the human rights ecosystem, global advocacy networks, and the critical role of communication in this field. In today’s world, people skills and strategic networking are just as essential as professional knowledge, and the Program provided the perfect environment to strengthen both. I had the opportunity to meet inspiring advocates from around the world, engage with leading scholars, and participate in events that broadened my perspective. These encounters helped me grow in confidence and conviction, pushing me to take on greater responsibilities back home.
One of the most valuable outcomes of HRAP was the connection I built with Columbia’s Global Freedom of Expression initiative. Through this collaboration, I began working as a legal researcher, providing analysis and commentary on key freedom of expression cases from Georgia. This ongoing relationship not only keeps me connected to the Columbia community but also allows me to contribute to a global platform that defends fundamental rights in increasingly hostile environments.
Through Columbia’s network, I was also introduced to the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at Oxford University and invited to serve as a judge for the international finals of the Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot Court Competition. This opportunity was both humbling and motivating, reinforcing the importance of regional perspectives in international legal debates and giving me a renewed sense of purpose in my work.
Since returning to Georgia, I have taken on a new leadership role as the Executive Director of Georgia’s Future Academy—a youth-focused civic organization that plays a key role in empowering the next generation of democratic actors. Despite increasing repression from the country’s authoritarian regime, I have been able to apply the knowledge, skills, and networks I gained through HRAP to strengthen my organization’s impact. Whether in the courtroom, the classroom, or civil society spaces, the foundation built at Columbia has been instrumental in helping me navigate today’s complex challenges.
The HRAP experience taught me that leadership in human rights is not just about advocacy—it is about resilience, collaboration, and courage. In the face of shrinking civic space and increasing risks, the lessons and relationships I gained through Columbia continue to sustain and inspire me. I am deeply grateful to the Institute for the Study of Human Rights and the HRAP team for opening these doors and amplifying the voices of human rights defenders like myself.
