ISHR welcomes 2010 human rights advocates

by Dorothy Lovell

SIPA Professor Thomas Lansner and Advocate Agnes Atim from Uganda at the 2010 Human Rights Advocate Program Reception. / Alan Orling

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) introduced its 2010 Human Rights Advocates to students, faculty and the wider Columbia University community at a Sept. 22 reception. The 10 advocates, chosen from 170 applicants, represent eight different countries and work on a wide range of issues from union rights in Belarus to LGBT rights in South Africa, women’s rights in Honduras and the rights of migrants in Haiti.

The advocates expressed excitement regarding their acceptance into the program, recognizing that despite their different areas of expertise, they have a wealth of experience to share with each other.

Agnes Atim, Director of National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda, noted that she values this opportunity and hopes to set the practical knowledge she has gained from her human rights work into a theoretical framework through coursework at Columbia.

Andrea María Nuila from the Center for Women’s Rights in Honduras reflected on the complete overhaul in advocacy strategy her organization has been forced to undertake since the June 2009 military coup. She looks forward to connecting with Hondurans in New York City while taking advantage of cultural events and discussions held at Columbia.

Prof. Andrew Nathan, chair of the ISHR board, stated that he is impressed with the advocates’ energy and sense of mission. He also noted that he is pleased to have five of the advocates speak to the undergraduate students in his Introduction to Human Rights course. “It will give the students a more concrete sense of human rights work at the grassroots — its diversity, its importance, and its challenges” he said.

ISHR associate director Yasmine Ergas stressed ISHR’s interest in developing new research and encouraged those with research ideas to contact the Institute.

Published in RightsNews Volume 29, no. 1, October, 2010.
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