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About Us: Who We Are

With a combined track record of 50 years of working to build strong human rights organizations and communities, Human Rights Connection's three coordinating organizations — Columbia University Center for the Study of Human Rights, Digital Freedom Network and Forefront — have provided training, support, and materials that strengthen organizations for hundreds of local human rights groups and thousands of activists around the world. Through our work we have developed close ties and relations of trust and collegiality with grassroots activists. We also have considerable expertise in building web sites specifically for users in developing countries with limited web access and slow Internet connections.

Established in 1978, the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University is one of the oldest university-based human rights institutions. Committed to the education and training of emerging human rights leaders, the Center has pioneered the promotion of human rights research, education, and training at Columbia University and distinguished itself through its interdisciplinary approach to human rights. For the past 14 years, the Center for the Study of Human Rights has worked to promote catalysts for social change by providing training to leaders and activists from developing countries through the Human Rights Advocates Training Program. This annual four-month program builds the capacity of grassroots activists worldwide to address pressing human rights issues and links them to the global human-rights community.

The Digital Freedom Network (DFN) develops and promotes the use of Internet technology for human rights activism around the world. Since 1997, DFN has increased awareness of human rights issues on the Internet, made technical information more readily available to activists, and provided an online voice to those not free to express themselves. Recent initiatives to raise awareness of human rights issues include a series of online chats with prominent activists and experts. DFN gives technical assistance to activists by developing clean, easily accessible Net-based campaigns and creating technology tutorials. It also publishes original news articles about human rights issues as well as articles provided by other organizations.

Forefront is a network founded and led by grassroots human rights defenders in more than 40 countries that works to strengthen and protect local groups and activists. Forefront strengthens the work of grassroots advocates by facilitating the exchange of information, skills, and technology, providing technical assistance, and responding to crises. The network is comprised of more than 60 past recipients of the Reebok Human Rights Award, representing nearly 50 non-governmental organizations all over the world.

Advisory Committee