Welcome to IHRE

Thank you for your interest in the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) program in Johannesburg, South Africa!

As an IHRE participant you will attend challenging classes examining human rights from a range of academic disciplines. The curriculum -- which blends a core course on international human rights, a seminar and practicum on human rights advocacy, and a wide range of electives -- offers a critical exploration of human rights topics in a multidisciplinary forum. Taught by professors from both African and North American institutions in a seminar style, classes provide a highly interactive and cross-cultural context for discussion and debate.

Students will also explore the practice of human rights through participation in a hands-on, mentored internship.  IHRE works with an impressive array of NGOs, all of which are working on the front lines to promote and protect human rights in South Africa.  Through these internships students gain invaluable experience working with programs effecting change in economic, cultural, social, political, and civil rights matters affecting South Africans today.

IHRE is designed to inspire and activate students by advancing their knowledge of human rights.  Through engagement in the classroom, in the community, and among peers and faculty members, IHRE will challenge you, offer new insights, and broaden your horizons.

Many students credit IHRE with helping them to discover how best to apply their talents and interests to work in the field of social justice.  A number of alumni have obtained jobs and fellowships as a result of their IHRE internship work.  For a list of the organizations we work with, please click here.   

The IHRE program aims to create and nurture a diverse community of students and scholars interested in the idea and promise of human rights.  Both in the classroom and off-campus, members of the IHRE community engage in rigorous academic debate on the key human rights issues of our time while simultaneously working to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and we hope to see you in South Africa!

Warm wishes,

IHRE Program Staff