Deadline: December 2, 2017
Applications are now open for the fully-funded Disability Rights Scholarship Program (DRSP) offered by the Open Society Foundation. Syracuse University’s College of Law, long-established as a pioneer with leading faculty expertise in disability rights and policy education, proudly hosts DRSP fellows in its graduate Law (LL.M.) program.
The Disability Rights Scholarship Program provides yearlong awards for master’s degree study to disability rights advocates, lawyers, and educators to develop new legislation, jurisprudence, policy, research, and scholarship to harness the innovations and opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
With the knowledge and networks gained through the program, we expect that fellows will deepen their understanding of international law and education, with a focus on disability rights, and gain the tools necessary to engage in a range of CRPD implementation strategies, such as: challenging rights violations in their home countries by drafting enforceable legislation consistent with the CRPD; utilizing enforcement mechanisms set forth in the Convention; taking forward disability rights litigation requesting CRPD-compliant remedies; engaging in disability rights advocacy; and developing law, education, or other academic curricula informed by the CRPD.
Participating Institutions
Fellows will be clustered if possible at select institutions that demonstrate cutting-edge capacity for legal education in international disability rights, and that are interested in forming a consortium of schools dedicated to developing this field and deepening their own capacity with an international perspective. In nurturing such a network, the Program strives to encourage faculties to incorporate disability rights into existing human rights curricula and participate in collaboratively-designed workshops and research efforts in the field. Participating schools include:
- Faculty of Law, McGill University, Canada
- School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
- School of Law, University of Leeds, UK
- College of Law, Syracuse University, USA
- Washington College of Law, American University, USA
Fellowship
The fellowship provides
- Tuition and mandatory university fees;
- Monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses;
- Program-related travel;
- Accident and health insurance during the program;
- Funds for educational materials and professional development;
- All costs associated with pre-academic summer program and annual conference;
- Support for students with disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations necessary for participating in the program of study.
Eligibility
The program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Candidates with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. The competition is merit-based and open to those meeting the following criteria:
- be a citizen and legal resident of China, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Mexico, or Peru at the time of application
- have work experience in the legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights
- have an excellent academic record with a bachelor of laws (LLB; in exceptional circumstances, those without a LLB but with substantial relevant experience may be considered)—a degree must be awarded by the application deadline
- have demonstrated leadership in the field of disability rights
- be proficient in spoken and written English or French and able to meet university-designated minimum scores on standardized language tests
- be able to participate in an intensive academic writing program in summer 2018
- be able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2018
- be able to receive and maintain visa or study permit required by host country
- demonstrate a clear commitment to return to home country to contribute to advancing the inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities in their communities
Employees of the Open Society Foundations and employees of local administering organizations (and their immediate family members) who are directly involved in the administration of scholarships are not eligible, nor are individuals receiving other Open Society Foundations–funded support during the fellowship period.
Application
- See the complete guidelines
- Complete and submit the online application
You may also contact the appropriate regional coordinator below:
Residents of Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, or Uganda
Centre for Human Rights
(c/o Mr. Jehoshaphat Njau)
Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Pretoria, 002, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 3587
Email: jehoshaphat.njau@up.ac.za
Residents of Mexico or Peru
Prof. Francisco Bariffi
Centro de Investigación y Docencia en Derechos Humanos
Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata
Calle 25 de Mayo 2855. 8º piso
Mar del Plata, CP 7600, ARGENTINA
Tel-Fax: +54-223-491-1376
Email: redcdpd@gmail.com
Website: redcdpd.net
Residents of China
Lesha Greene
Open Society Foundations
Scholarship Programs
224 W. 57th St.
New York, NY 10019 USA
Tel: +1-212-548-0107
Email: lesha.greene@opensocietyfoundations.org
For more information, visit Disability Rights Scholarship Program.
