As the world changes, IHRIP changes.

IHRIP begins in 1976

IHRIP started as an initiative of a few international NGOs and individuals teaching human rights. The program offered year-long internships with international human rights groups to students mostly from the global North.

Human rights work grows in the global South

In the 1970s, groups formed in Chile, Argentina, South Africa and elsewhere to address horrific abuses there. In response, IHRIP extended its internships to students from the global South and placed them with both national and international NGOs.

Local and national human rights struggles receive more attention

Human rights groups developed rapidly at the local and national levels in many countries. In 1989 IHRIP shifted its focus to support short-term professional development exchange projects for staff of these NGOs.

Cold War winds down

Thereafter, human rights activism expanded rapidly to include economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights. From the early 1990s, IHRIP placed a particular emphasis on ESC rights, producing resources to encourage and facilitate this work.

Hunger, ill-health and illiteracy become human rights issues

With the growing understanding of issues such as these human rights concerns, the scope of work and challenges facing human rights groups increased exponentially. In response, IHRIP expanded its work beyond supporting exchanges and producing resources on ESC rights to sponsoring courses on monitoring, documenting and undertaking advocacy on ESC rights issues.

Budget work as human rights documentation

Budget analysis and expenditure tracking are becoming increasingly important tools in human rights work. In recent years, IHRIP has directed increasing energy and resources to encouraging and facilitating the use of human rights-focused budget work.