News

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

During the last week of February, HRAP participants visited DC for networking meetings with the State Department, RFK Human Rights, the National Endowment for Democracy, Amnesty International-USA, Free the Slaves, Human Rights Campaign, Vital Voices, Washington Office on Latin America, and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable. Not one meeting was cancelled; in fact, meetings continued to be scheduled up until the day before we left for DC. 

Monday, February 24, 2025

On February 11th, 30 students, alumni and faculty attended “A Conversation with Human Rights Advocates on the Current State of LGBTQI+ Rights Around the World” on the Morningside Campus. Stephanie Grepo of ISHR opened the event and introduced Luiza Drummond Veado of UNDP who moderated the conversation with four participants in the 2024-25 Human Rights Advocates Program.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

1993 Advocate Luis Felipe Polo returned to Columbia University in February to meet the current HRAP cohort at the ISHR Winter Reception. He shared with them his memories of HRAP as well as his Columbia ID card--which he still carries with him! While at the reception, he was thrilled to see retired Columbia Professors Joan Ferrante and Carey McIntosh who regularly hosted HRAP advocates, including him, at their home in Western Massachusetts during the first two decades of the program. 

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

We are delighted to announce that Gergana Halpern has been appointed to serve as Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR). Gergana brings to the job both enthusiasm and extensive experience in program management and academic administration, with a background in law, research, and advocacy. 

Monday, January 13, 2025
The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is pleased to welcome the 2024-25 HRAP cohort to campus this January.