Barnard College | Human Rights Program

1. Purpose

The aim of the Human Rights Studies Program at Barnard College is to equip young women with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate human rights into their personal and professional lives.

2. Principles

Human rights studies is offered as a joint major (with a discipline) in the conviction that understanding and achieving progress in the promotion of human rights require the resources of many disciplines and professions as well as familiarity with human rights law, institutions and practice. While for some people human rights can be a profession in itself, for most human rights is more of a dimension or a concern within a larger personal, professional or world vision. Human rights studies at Barnard seeks to provide the basic insights and skills needed for young women to become cogent, life-long advocates for human rights. Currently the Program works closely with many Barnard departments, including also the programs in African Studies, Women’s Studies, Migration and Diaspora Studies, and Religion. Students and faculty in other fields and with other interests are welcome.

3. Activities

The Programs seek to achieve these goals through:
- Basic Courses in human rights, complemented by
- Courses that reinforce disciplinary skills and deepen knowledge on chosen topics,
- Internships,
- A senior thesis (for those taking human rights as major) to provide evidence of proficiency in human rights as well as in a discipline,
- Academic and career advising, and
- Special events, exchange programs, and meetings with activists and other experts.

4. Director of Program

Dr. J. Paul Martin
Room 226D Milbank
jmartin@barnard.edu
212 854 5420
Office hours: Tuesday 11 a.m.-12.30 p.m., or by appointment