Disability Rights Scholarship Program 2020

Published by sihana

Deadline: 6 January 2020
Open to: citizens of Ethiopia, Lesotho, Sudan, South Sudan; Czech Republic, Georgia, or Ukraine with experience in the legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights
Benefits: fully funded

Description

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) is accepting applications for its Disability Rights Scholarship Program to provide 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).

The people who are in charge of the Disability Rights Scholarship Program want to provide all applicants with the tools that they need to create CRPD strategies and engage in disability rights advocacy. Participating schools
include:
• School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• Faculty of Law, McGill University, Canada
• School of Law, University of Leeds, UK
• College of Law, Syracuse University, USA
• Washington College of Law, American University, USA

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 Ethiopia, Lesotho, Sudan, South Sudan; Czech Republic, Georgia, or Ukraine 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 July–August 2020
  • be able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2020
  • 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

Benefits                                                    

Here all the benefits that this scholarship program offers:

  • 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 the pre-academic summer program and an annual conference;
  • support for students with disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations necessary for participating in the program of study.

How to apply?

For more information, and to apply, please visit the official website.