Fwd: Scholarship in Disability Rights

[Yumi KC]

Dear All,

 

If you know someone who could benefit from the following, do please forward this to her/him.  This is a scholarship for persons wishing to further their career as advocates for people with disabilities.

 

Thanks,

yumi

****Call for Applications****

Open Society Foundations Scholarship Programs

2012 DISABILITY RIGHTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Disability Rights Scholarship Program will offer up to 20 awards to individuals from Nepal and select countries in Africa and Latin America for LLM study beginning in fall 2012.  The program aims to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, and through legal channels, help overcome the effect of exclusionary practices, so that persons with disabilities achieve a state of full and effective participation and inclusion in society.

The program intends to provide disability rights advocates and lawyers with the necessary expertise todevelop new legislation, jurisprudence, impact litigation, and scholarship, thereby taking advantage of the innovations and opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  The CRPD, which entered into force in May 2008), presents a paradigm shift in the field of disability rights and provides a framework for developing innovative legal arguments.

With theknowledge and networks gained in the program, we expect that Fellows will have the ability to challenge rights violations in their home countries by drafting enforceable legislation consistent with the CRPD and applying legal remedies implied in the Convention to address injustices.  Alumni will also be qualified to train and mentor new lawyers of disability rights through clinical programs.

Eligibility

The Program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.  The competition is merit-based and open* to those meeting the following criteria:

• Citizen and legal resident of  Nepal at the time of application.

• work experience in legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights; ( In exceptional circumstances, those without a law degree but with substantial experience in the field may be considered.);

•  demonstrated leadership in field of disability rights;

•  proficient in spoken and written English or French;

•  able to participate in an intensive academic writing program in Summer 2012;

•  able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2012;

•  able to receive and maintain visa or study permit required by host country;

University Placement

Fellows are matched with universities according to their chosen area of specialization, academic profile, and professional aspirations.  All decisions concerning host university placement are made by the program selection committee, which includes university admissions staff and faculty.  Finalists may not choose their host university. The participating institution are:

•  National University of Galway, Ireland

•  Washington College of Law, American University, Washington DC, USA

•  McGill University, Montreal, Canada

•  Cardiff Law School, Wales, UK

•  University  of Leeds, UK

Application guidelines 

Application and Recommendation Forms are available from the addresses listed below.

Contacts
 

Residents of Nepal: 

Alliance for Social Dialogue

GPO Box 25334 

RamchandraMarg, Battisputali 

Kathmandu, Nepal

Contact: Ms. Neha Basnet

Email: schol...@asd.org.np 

Phone: +977 1 4472807 

 

Deadline 

Please submit completed application forms and all necessary accompanying documents, along with a copy of your passport to the Program Representative above by the deadline of March 15, 2012.