News

Student Highlight
Leyla Bilalova
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

ISHR is proud to announce that Leyla Bilalova, Human Rights Studies M.A. ‘26, was awarded the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis International Fellowship for her superior academic accomplishments. Funded by a $10 million bequest from the late Kathryn Wasserman Davis, ’31 GSAS, the Davis Fellowships supports international MA and PhD students. Learn more about Leyla, her research, and future plans in the profile below. 

2025-26 Advocate from Tanzania Is Finalist for Top UN Human Rights Post
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

ISHR is proud to announce that 2025-26 Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa has been named one of three finalists for the post of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. He is the Founding National Coordinator and Board Secretary of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition. The selection followed a highly competitive, transparent and rigorous process that assessed 65 eligible candidates from around the world. The President of the UN Human Rights Council will decide on the appointment shortly.

ISHR Welcomes Advocates
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

ISHR is pleased to announce that the 2025-26 cohort of the Human Rights Advocates Program has arrived at Columbia University for the in-person portion of the program. The seven advocates whose bios can be found here will participate in classes, networking opportunities and skill-based workshops while they raise awareness about the human rights issues they are working on.

HRAP Photo Exhibition at Interchurch
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

The Interchurch Center is currently hosting a photo exhibition about alumni of the Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP). On January 29th at noon, the library at Interchurch will host the current HRAP cohort for a talk about their work. No ID is required to view the exhibit. If you wish to attend the talk, please email sg2670@columbia.edu. The exhibit is through late February. 

2018 Advocate Marks International Migrants Day
Wednesday, December 31, 2025

On International Migrants Day, 18 December, 2018 Advocate Marijana Savic (center, back row), the Executive Director of NGO Atina welcomed H.E. Anne Lugon-Moulin, the Swiss Ambassador to Serbia, to a conversation about power, protection, and whose voices shape migration policies. Marijana reported that at the meeting were 11 women with lived experience of migration, who spoke clearly and collectively about the following:

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