Conchita Poncini Jimenez
International Human Rights Fellowship

The International Federation of University Women (IFUW) is proud to announce the Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship to promote the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women and girls. The award is named in honour of Conchita Poncini Jimenez, IFUW Representative to the United Nations 1994-2011.

From her professional career with the International Labour Office from 1964-1994, to her active volunteer work with IFUW from 1994 until her death from cancer in 2011, Conchita spent her life fighting for gender equality and women’s empowerment.   She was a leader in the campaign to have women’s rights recognized as human rights and lobbied continuously against violations and practices that threaten the rights and lives of women and girls throughout the world.

Up to 70% of the world’s women will experience violence in their lifetime.  Up to 800,000 persons are trafficked across international borders annual, the vast majority of them women and girls.  Three million girls per year are thought to be at risk of genital mutilation.  Only one country out of three has reach gender parity at both the primary and secondary school levels.  These are but a few of the stark statistics on violations of women’s human rights taking place throughout the world.

International human rights instruments and agreements to protect women human rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), have been adopted, but much work is needed to ensure their implementation at the national  and local level. The Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship will be given in 2012 for advanced research, an internship or study related to the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women. IFUW is currently raising funds for this award.  Those interesting in supporting this award can contribute by clicking on the donate button to the right.

Eligibility:                  

• The Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship is open to women human rights activists, scholars, journalists, writers, or social scientists with a demonstrated commitment to the advancement of women and girls and the attainment of their human rights.
• Preference will be given to applicants with at least five years of proven activist and/or research experience in the field.
• All applicants must either have a degree from a higher education institution or an equivalent qualification or have substantial relevant work experience at a significant comparable level.
• The award is open to women of all nationalities.
• Proposals must relate to the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women, for example the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) or the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
• The award may be used for any of the following: a major research project at a university or institution of higher learning in any country;  an internship or project to be carried out with an appropriate international or national human rights organization; or study for an appropriate academic qualification (e.g. Masters or PhD) for those with substantial experience of national or international human rights activity but no higher degree.

Terms:

• The CPJ Human Rights Fellow will receive CHF 20,000, payable in two instalments.  The first will be paid at the beginning of tenure, the second after submission of a mid-term report.
• The award is non-renewable.
• The award is for 8 to 12 months of full-time work/study or up to 24 months of part-time work/study.
• The CPJ Human Rights Fellow will be expected to:

1. Complete the work or study for which the award is given;
2. Submit a one-page mid-term progress report;
3. Contribute a written report of 3,000 to 5,000 words by the end of the funding period;
4. Make an oral presentation at IFUW’s Triennial Conference in Istanbul in August 2013, for which airfare and accommodation will be provided.

Application process:

• The application form will be available on this webpage.
• Applications will be screened by a small panel of IFUW and external reviewers with human rights expertise.  A small number will be chosen as finalists.  Phone interviews will be conducted with finalists and the final decision will be announced later in 2012.
• Applicants will be expected to complete the official application form, including a two-page essay explaining their human rights experience and future plans, to provide a curriculum vitae and to list three references familiar with their human rights work.

www.ifuw.org/fellowships/poncini-donor-form.shtml