Deadline: 24 January 2011
Open to: lawyers and activists working on human rights issues internationally
Scholarship: Full

The Justice Initiative Fellows Program is a two-year program of study and practical work experience that aims to develop a network of lawyers and activists working on human rights issues internationally.

Fellows spend their first year in a degree program at the Legal Studies Department of the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, with required coursework on human rights. Fellows also participate in a three-month internship with a leading European nongovernmental organization from January until March, and spend their second year in their home country, working in human rights advocacy with their nominating organization.

Up to ten applicants will be selected to participate in the program beginning in fall 2011. Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible: Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central/South America.

Eligibility

* Applicants must be nominated by a national non-governmental organization concerned with human rights
* The applicant must demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights
* Hold a university degree
* Have a high degree of proficiency in English
* Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible: Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central/South America.

Criteria for selection will include the applicant’s experience, his/her potential to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights, and the suitability of the applicant’s proposed role in the nominating NGO.

Candidates must include with their applications:

1.  A nominating letter from an NGO describing the reasons for nominating the applicant, the expectations the NGO has of the project, and contractually committing (to the Justice Initiative) to hire the applicant for at least one year after s/he returns from the twelve-month training program in Hungary.
2.  Proof of English proficiency
3.  A statement of purpose for applying to the Justice Initiative Fellows program.
4.  A proposal of project activities that the candidate plans to work on with the nominating NGO during the second year of the fellowship.

Financial Conditions

Financial conditions will be identical to CEU policies for full scholarship students.
The Justice Initiative Fellows will return to their local nominating NGOs after the first year, where they will spend at least one year working in human rights advocacy on a non-profit basis. The Justice Initiative will pay a local salary during this second year equal to an amount determined to be similar to equivalent work by the nominating NGO. This amount will be provided to the nominating NGOs in the form of a grant.

Contact

Andrea Jenei
Special Programs Coordinator
Legal Studies Department
Central European University
Nador u. 9, Budapest 1051
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +361 882-3205