Human Rights/Advocacy
Many students and alumnae are committed to making a difference in the world; human rights/advocacy is
a career goal that is often pursued by Wellesley students and alumnae. Broad in scope, human rights
issues can be international or local in scope, and address a variety of topics, including, but not limited to
the following: poverty, gender discrimination, war crimes, hunger, children’s issues, and racial/ethnic
discrimination. Entry-level positions are often administrative in nature, e.g. organizing events; they may
also involve grassroots organizing, e.g. door-to-door campaigning. In order to develop or oversee
programs within human rights/advocacy organizations, a minimum of master’s degree is typically
required.
Wellesley Alumnae have attended these graduate programs (these graduate programs in
International Relations/Public Policy have a Human Rights focus)
Columbia University (School of International and Public Affairs)
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins
New York University (School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Center for Global Affairs)
Stanford University
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Sussex, UK
Resources
NGO Research Guide
Wellesley College Alumnae in Careers with a Conscience
Idealist.org
Paths to employment
American Civil Liberties Union
Amnesty International
The Advocacy Project
The Carter Center
Center for Economic and Social Rights
Center for Justice and International Lawi
Children’s Rights International
Equality Now
Facing History and Ourselves
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch International League for Human Rights
International Rescue Committee
Lawyers for Human Rights
Legal Advocacy and Resource Center
MADRE
Middle East Children’s Alliance
National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Oxfam International
People Who
Physicians for Human Rights
Save the Children
Social Accountability International
Tostan
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
Women, Law, and Development International
Be the Difference ❘
Center for Work and Service ❘
Green Hall 441 ❘
www.wellesley.edu/CWS