Rights & Freedoms - The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

1,800

Alumni

Impact: Humphrey Fellows promote, advance, and protect human rights and freedoms.

Alumni Include: Supreme Court Justices, Cabinet members, Heads of News Organizations, and Human Rights Lawyers

Communications/Journalism

Humphrey Fellows work in the field of media and communications, such as investigative journalism, fact-checking to combat disinformation, public broadcasting, and public relations, to foster and facilitate press freedom and transparent media in their country.

Alumni Highlight: Maggie Michael, Egypt, 2009-2010

Humphrey Alumna Maggie Michael Awarded 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism

In 2019, Humphrey alumna Maggie Michael and two other journalists on her team at the Associated Press received the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in international reporting for their coverage of the civil war in Yemen. Her team has documented images and stories of the atrocities and sufferings of the Yemeni people due to the ongoing conflict in the country. This series of reports chronicled the war and have helped bring worldwide attention to a largely ignored conflict. Maggie Michael, an Egyptian journalist from Cairo, joined the AP in 2002 and covers political and religious conflict in the Middle East.

International Religious Freedom

Humphrey Fellows work on policies, programs, and projects that contribute to local, national, or international efforts to combat and monitor religious persecution and discrimination, expand rights to freely practice religions, and promote interfaith dialogue.

Law and Human Rights

Humphrey Fellows work as attorneys, judges, and human rights activists to advance the rule of law and human rights and freedom, such as initiating legal and judicial reform, drafting legislative policies, and leading international humanitarian efforts and programs.

Alumni Highlight: Ehtasham Anwar, Pakistan, 2013-2014

Humphrey Alumnus Ehtasham Anwar Opens First Public School for Transgender Students in Pakistan

In 2021, as Education Secretary in South Punjab, Pakistan, Humphrey alumnus Ehtasham Anwar opened the  first public school  for transgender students in Multan, Pakistan.  Students are currently participating in an accelerated learning program, including vocational/technical skills (tailoring, beautician skills, cooking), so students can earn a living.  Transportation, books, school supplies, uniforms, and shoes are all being provided to the students.

Trafficking in Persons Policy and Prevention

Humphrey Fellows work various sectors and fields, such as social work, public administration, and public health, that are focused on anti-trafficking issues.

Alumni Highlight: Carolina Rudnick, Chile, 2015-2016

Humphrey Alumna Carolina Rudnick Helps Develop First National Plan of Action Against Human Trafficking in Chile

From 2013-2015, Humphrey alumna Carolina Rudnick was executive coordinator of the Intergovernmental Committee Against Trafficking in Persons at the Ministry of Interior of Chile. Under her leadership, Chile designed and implemented the first national plan of action against human trafficking, which was instrumental in the advancement of Chile’s qualification from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report. Carolina is the founder and president of LIBERA Foundation, a non-governmental organization aiming to eradicate human trafficking and slavery while also promoting freedom and human dignity.