The Institute for the Study of Human Rights is pleased to welcome the eight participants in the 2020-21 Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) to Columbia University.
The incoming class with representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, Mexico, India and Georgia will take part in HRAP’s comprehensive program of advocacy, networking, skill-building, mentoring, public discussions, and academic coursework. The program provides participants with the opportunity to hone practical skills, develop a deeper understanding of human rights, and foster mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and individuals in their respective fields.
Since its inception in 1989, HRAP has built the capacity of 328 advocates from 91 countries. This year, in response to the global pandemic, HRAP will take place remotely in the fall 2020 semester and will continue online or in-person in spring 2021 depending on the global situation.
ISHR would like to thank the following for supporting this year's participants:
- Ambassador Nicholas Platt in memory of his wife, Sheila Platt
- Anonymous
- Arcus Foundation
- The Harriman Institute at Columbia University
Faculty who are interested in meeting with the advocates or inviting them to speak in their classes are encouraged to contact us
via email. Individuals are also encouraged to contact us if they are interested in inviting an advocate to participate in any speaking events.
This year's advocates are:
- Ekanem Itoro Effong, UNAIDS Youth Leader for West and Central Africa, Advocacy Working Group Lead, The PACT, Nigeria
- Francis Bichnord Komla Asong, Executive Director at Voice of People with Disability Ghana (VOICE Ghana), Ghana
- Joy Pathaw, Executive Member at Grassroot, India
- Renae Green, Associate Director, Policy & Advocacy at TransWave Jamaica, Jamaica
- Ruben Avila Reyna, Executive Director, Sin Control Parental, Mexico
- Tamar Ivaniadze, Co-founder and Chairperson at Initiative for Social Changes, Georgia
Click here for full biographical information on the 2020-21 Advocates or visit our
Advocates page to read about the new and past advocates.
