MINELRES: Justice Initiative Fellows Program, Central European University (Budapest)

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Saskia Chilcott <saskia.chilcott@mrgmail.org> 


Open Society Justice Initiative 
Central European University 
Department of Legal Studies 
CEU Budapest 



Justice Initiative Fellows Program at Central European University 
(2004-2006 session) 


The Open Society Justice Initiative (Justice Initiative), part of the
Open Society Institute (OSI), joins with Central European University
(CEU) to announce Justice Initiative Fellows Program. The aim of the
program is to support and further develop a network of lawyers and
activists working on human rights-related issues. 
The Human Rights Fellows Program is a two year program of study and
practical work experience. Up to ten applicants will be selected in 2004
to participate in the program. 
Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible to
participate in the program: Central and Eastern Europe, the former
Soviet Union, Mongolia, West and Southern Africa, Great Lakes region in
Africa, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. 


Applicants must be nominated by a non-governmental organization
concerned with human rights. The applicant must demonstrate a strong
commitment to human rights, a university degree and a high degree of
proficiency in English. Criteria for selection will include the
experience of the applicant, the applicant's potential to contribute to
the protection and promotion of human rights, and the suitability of the
applicant's proposed role in the nominating NGO. Upon their selection,
Fellows will be required to sign an agreement with Justice Initiative
according to which they will commit themselves for two years in the
program: the first year to be spent with the Central European
University. The second year is to be spent in his/her home country
working with the nominating NGO. 
Human Rights Fellows will reside a total of one year in Hungary, at CEU
Legal Studies Department. They will undertake a degree program (M.A. or
LL.M. in Human Rights, dependent on their undergraduate degree), in
which they will be required to fulfill the requirements of the Human
Rights Program at Central European University. During their stay at CEU
the Fellows will also participate in a three-month internship placement
with leading NGOs in Europe from January till March. 


The Justice Initiative Fellowship will be administered by the Legal
Studies Department of the CEU in the partnership with Justice Initiative
during the first year of the program. Financial terms will be identical
to CEU policies for full scholarship students. Human Rights Fellows will
return to their nominating NGOs after the first year, where they will
spend at least one year working on human rights advocacy on a non-profit
basis: providing legal services, undertaking human rights litigation,
providing training and education, etc. Justice Initiative will pay a
local salary during this second year that is 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. 


Application Procedure 
Please note that applicants must submit their applications to the CEU
Admissions Office. Applicants must meet the general CEU Admissions
requirements (http://www.ceu.hu/prospective_students.html), as well as
the CEU Legal Studies Department Admissions Requirements
(http://www.ceu.hu/legal/legent_2002.html). In addition, applicants must
include: 

1. Nominating letter from an NGO describing the need for having a
lawyer, activist or scholar working in the organization and
contractually committing to Justice Initiative to hire the applicant for
at least one year after he/she returns from the twelve-month training
program in Hungary. The nomination letter should also indicate a monthly
salary gross rate in USD (including all taxes and fees) that will be
offered to the applicant by the NGO in the event that he or she is
selected for the program (which would be provided to the NGO by Justice
Initiative in the form of a grant). 

2. If applicable, a copy of your Bar Association membership, or the date
scheduled for your examination. 

3. English Proficiency Proof (if available). If no language test had
been taken, this test will be carried out during the procedure (the
period of time will be clarified later). For the applicants from FSU and
CE Europe the test will be carried our by local Soros Foundation/Open
Society Institute Coordinators, in other regions applicants will be
contacted separately. 

4. Statement of purpose for applying to the Justice Initiative Fellows
program. Proposal of project activities that the candidate plans to work
on during the second year of fellowship. 


The DEADLINE for receiving applications in at CEU is January 5, 2004. If
you have questions regarding the first year of the program, please
contact Maria Balla, Department Coordinator, Legal Studies Department,
Central European University, Nador u. 9, Budapest 1051, tel: 361
327-3204, e-mail: ballam@ceu.hu, web: http://www.ceu.hu. For more
information about the overall program, please contact Rita Bakradze,
Program Coordinator at Justice Initiative, Nador u. 11, Budapest 1051,
phone: 361 327-3102; fax: 
361 327 3103; e-mail: rbakradze@osi.hu