[women-rights] 2003 Legal Fellowship Program on reproductive rights and sexual health in Latvia, Poland, Serbia And Slovakia

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

NETWORK OF EAST-WEST WOMEN

2003 LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND SEXUAL HEALTH
IN LATVIA, POLAND, SERBIA and SLOVAKIA

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) is pleased to announce a call for 
applications for the 2003 Legal Fellowship Program on Reproductive Rights 
and Sexual Health. The Program offers young women lawyers from LATVIA, 
POLAND, SERBIA and SLOVAKIA an opportunity to strengthen their research, 
advocacy and litigation skills in the area of REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS and 
SEXUAL HEALTH, develop networks with other womens rights attorneys, and 
design projects to advance womens rights and policy related to 
reproductive rights and sexual health in their home countries. Two Fellows 
will be selected for this session.

2003 marks the seventh session of the Legal Fellowship Program, and the 
2003 Program is funded by the Public Health Program of the Open Society 
Institute.  Selected Fellows will join an alumnae network of 24 Fellows 
working to advance women's rights throughout Central, Eastern and 
Southeastern Europe, the Newly Independent States and the Russia Federation 
(CEE/NIS).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:                      May 15, 2003

PROGRAM DATES:
                                                                                     U.S. 
Placement:   August 25 December 22, 2003
                                                                                     In-Country 
Follow-On Projects:  January 1 - December 31,  2004

DURATION:                                                              16 
Months

ELIGIBILITY:

Applications will be accepted from women lawyers from Latvia, Poland, 
Serbia and Slovakia who have completed their law studies within the past 
five years.  Applications showing graduation prior to 1998 will not be 
considered. Candidates must:  1) have experience and a demonstrated 
commitment to womens human rights advocacy; 2) be affiliated with an 
established womens NGO that will support the candidates follow-on project 
if selected for the Program; and 3) be fluent in written and spoken 
English.  Candidates with specific experience in reproductive rights and 
sexual health are particularly encouraged to apply.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The goal of the NEWW Legal Fellowship Program is to build the capacity of 
women lawyers at the beginning of their careers, and womens organizations 
throughout CEE/NIS to advocate more effectively for womens human rights. 
Supported by grants from the Open Society Institute, the Ford Foundation, 
the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation and NEWWs Board of Directors, the Legal 
Fellowship Program bridges the gap between theory and practice by providing 
an intensive training experience in law, public policy and feminist activism.

During the U.S. placement period, Fellows participate in a one week 
orientation in Washington D.C., complete a four-month internship at a 
U.S.-based human rights organization and participate in a law school course 
on International Womens Human Rights. Every effort is made to match each 
Fellow with an organization that is conducting work related to the Fellows 
specific interest area. In December 2003, Fellows return to their home 
countries to complete a one-year follow-on project.  Each Fellow designs 
and raises funds for her project while in the U.S. with support from NEWW 
and her host organization.

STIPEND:

Fellowships includes travel to and from the placement site in the United 
States, short-term medical insurance, use of a laptop computer and a 
monthly stipend to cover room and board expenses during the U.S. portion of 
the program. Housing is arranged in an international student house or 
similar student accommodation. In some cases Fellows are placed with 
families in their host city. Upon successful completion of the U.S. portion 
of the Program, NEWW provides each Fellow with a $3,000 seed grant to begin 
implementation of her follow-on project.

Please note that NEWW guarantees financial support for the Fellows only 
during their time in the U.S.  NEWW makes every effort to assist the 
Fellows and their NGOs in CEE/NIS to raise the funds needed to implement 
the follow-on project, but NEWW cannot guarantee support during the 
follow-on period beyond the $3,000 seed grant provided as part of the 
Fellowship.


APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

There is no formal application form for this Program.  Follow the 
directions below for submitting the required documents.

Application materials should be submitted electronically as ONE 
attachment.  Do not send each document as a separate attachment as NEWW 
cannot guarantee that all of your documents will be reviewed by the 
Selection Committee.

Completed applications should be sent by email to NEWW at 
jgaruccio@neww.org.  If email is not possible, please send the complete 
application packet by regular mail to the address below. Applications sent 
by mail must be RECEVIED in NEWWs office by the application deadline of 
May 15, 2003.  Applications received after May 15 will not be considered.

Following review by the International Selection Committee, a maximum of 10 
finalists will be selected for personal interviews to take place in Poland 
in June 2003.  Selected finalists will be notified of their interview on or 
around May 30, 2003. Notification of Fellowship awards will be made by July 
1, 2003.

Applicants should submit the following materials in English:

" Cover letter and curriculum vitae.

" Personal statement that:  1) summarizes the applicants interest and 
involvement in the field of womens rights, and in particular reproductive 
rights and sexual health if applicable, and details her work with local 
womens organizations; 2) describes her reasons for applying to the Legal 
Fellowship Program and her expectations about this experience; and 3) 
outlines her goals and future career plans.

" Two letters of recommendation in English, or accompanied by English 
translations, including all current contact information for the letters 
author. All written recommendations will be verified by local NEWW contacts 
or via telephone by NEWW staff.

" Signed declaration stating that if the applicant is selected for the 
Program, she will return to her home country to complete a 12-month 
follow-on project immediately following the U.S. placement period.  Signed 
declarations can either be scanned and emailed, faxed or sent by regular 
mail by the application deadline.

" 3-5 page country briefing paper about the status of women in the 
applicants country, including recommendations for advocacy and legal 
reform.  The paper may focus on one or more issues of current relevance in 
the applicants country, and should demonstrate the applicants ability to 
write and formulate arguments in English.


CONTACT PERSON:

Julie Garuccio
Program Associate
Network of East-West Women
Email: jgaruccio@neww.org

1761 S Street NW, Suite LL-12
Washington, DC 20009
Tel (202) 299-9001
Fax (202) 299-9003
Website:  www.neww.org

The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) is an international membership and 
advocacy organization linking women in more than 30 countries in Central 
and Southeastern Europe, the New Independent States and the Russian 
Federation. Through the Legal Fellowship Program and other programs, NEWW 
supports independent womens movements that foster womens participation in 
all aspects of public decision-making. NEWWs primary objective is to 
increase the capacity of women and womens NGOs to shape policies that 
affect womens lives.