News

ISHR Hosts Session on Student Volunteer Program
Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Past participants and hosts from ISHR’s Student Volunteer Program (SVP) spoke to current students about their experiences in mid November. Since 2011, alumni of the Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at ISHR have been hosting Columbia human rights students at their organizations for eight weeks during the summer.

Alumni Highlight
Avner Gvaryahu
Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Avner Gvaryahu, Human Rights Studies M.A. ‘17, is the recipient of the 2025 New Israel Fund’s Human Rights Award, a recognition that highlights his courageous leadership and unwavering commitment to justice. This honor celebrates his years of dedicated advocacy and his powerful work amplifying the voices of those affected by the ongoing conflict, and his desires for peace. Read more about Avner’s professional and academic background below. 

ISHR hosted a talk with H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the UN Human Rights Council
Thursday, November 13, 2025

On Thursday, October 30th, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights hosted a conversation with H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva. The talk was moderated by Human Rights M.A. student, Céline Pfister. Gergana Halpern, ISHR Deputy Director, gave introductory remarks. 

ISHR hosted a "Community Engagement for Human Rights Practitioners" training
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
On Friday, October 10, 2025, ISHR hosted a training titled "Community Engagement for Human Rights Practitioners." 
Alumni Highlight
Carly Sandstrom
Thursday, September 18, 2025

Carly Sandstrom graduated from the Human Rights Studies M.A. (HRSMA) program in 2024. She shares her experience during her time as a student at Columbia.

Please share a bit about yourself and the work that you do

I graduated from ISHR with my MA in human rights studies in 2024. Following my studies, I worked at a behavioral health non-profit in rural Michigan as the grant administrator. I am currently a PhD student in political science at Notre Dame where my research focuses on themes of democracy, human rights, political violence, and armed conflict. 

Pages