European External Action Service
European External Action Service
01/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 07:00
Applications for 2025 SAKHAROV FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME are open
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Applications for 2025 SAKHAROV FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME are open
© European Parliament
The deadline for applications is midnight 26 January 2025 (CET). Successful candidates will receive confirmation by email, latest by 4 March 2025.
The European Parliament's Sakharov Fellowship offers up to 14 human rights defenders selected from non-EU countries the opportunity to follow a two week intensive training at the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice and in Brussels. The empowering programme for human rights defenders has been organised annually since 2016 further to an initiative taken by the Sakharov Prize Community at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Sakharov Prize.
Under the Sakharov Fellowship training programme human rights defenders will:
- enhance their knowledge of EU and international human rights frameworks, policies and mechanisms;
- develop capacities to advocate for and effect positive change to protect human rights.
Beyond the training, Sakharov Fellows will:
- help grow the network of Sakharov Fellows to share best practices, disseminate the acquired knowledge and extend awareness of the Sakharov Prize and the Sakharov Community;
- have the opportunity to maintain links with the work of the European Parliament and continue liaising with EU Delegations in their respective countries.
Training at the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice combines academic teaching on international human rights law, instruments and mechanisms with case studies and provides practical tools for improving the work of human rights defenders to effect change on the ground. Lecturers include prominent academics, representatives of leading human rights NGOs, Sakharov Prize laureates and other outstanding human rights practitioners.
The Brussels programme focuses on EU policies and tools in support of human rights defenders, accessing funding, developing communications skills, and raising awareness of specific security challenges facing human rights defenders. It further includes meetings with Members of Parliament, officials of the EU institutions and Brussels-based NGOs. The Fellows will also have space for individual advocacy and networking activities.
The programme will be organised in person in Venice and Brussels. It might be changed to an on-line format if sanitary conditions require.
The Sakharov fellowship is subject to the approval of the Annual Work Programme of DG-EXPO of the European Parliament.
Candidates should have a proven record in campaigning for human rights in a NGO or other organisation or in an individual capacity. They must have a high level of English, sufficient to follow and contribute to discussion groups and workshops in Venice and Brussels.
The selection of Fellows is based on the above criteria and the need to ensure gender balance as well as the representation of a variety of geographical areas and human rights issues.
The Fellowship covers return travel from the country of origin, accommodation in Venice and Brussels and a daily living allowance. The deadline for applications is midnight 26 January 2025 (CET). Successful candidates will receive confirmation by email, latest by 4 March 2025. Unsuccessful candidates will not be informed of the reasons why they were not shortlisted or offered a fellowship.