Grants and fellowships

I. A. Rehman Research Grant

The I. A. Rehman Research Grant was instituted in 2020 in honour of the veteran human rights defender, journalist and former secretary-general of the Commission, the late I. A. Rehman (1930-2021). HRCP awards one grant annually to an academic, journalist, or human rights defender or professional for original research carried out in any area of human rights—civil, political, economic, social, cultural, or environmental—in Pakistan.

The grant is open to Pakistani citizens or foreign nationality holders of Pakistani heritage. All shortlisted applications are evaluated by an independent committee before the recipient is announced.

Through this grant, HRCP hopes to expand the depth and breadth of research on human rights in Pakistan. The resulting reports are published for dissemination among policymakers, human rights defenders, academics, and the media.

Application cycle 2025

The application cycle for the I. A. Rehman Research Grant for 2025 is now closed.

Previous recipients

2020: Farieha Aziz (Rethinking the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act: How Cybercrime Laws Are Weaponised Against Women)

2021: Razeshta Sethna (Truth Comes at a Price: Censorship and the Battle for an Independent Media)

2022: Usama Khawar (Fighting to Breathe: Occupational Safety and Health in Punjab’s Stone-Crushing Industry)

2023/24: Zubair Torwali (Internal Colonization in Pakistan: The Impact on Cultural Rights)

2025: Syeda Armeen Nasim

Fakhruddin G Ebrahim Fellowship

In 2023, HRCP instituted a fellowship in memory of the late Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim (1928–2020), an eminent jurist and founding member of the organization. Sponsored by the Ebrahim family, the fellowship is an annual competitive grant awarded to human rights defenders and practitioners to support the development of an independent project aligned with HRCP’s vision and mission.

Application cycle 2025

The application cycle for 2025 is now open.

Theme

This year’s fellowship will support the production of an investigative feature on the nature, extent and dynamics of sexual violence against children in online spaces in Pakistan, assessing the impact on children’s rights and providing evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations.

Duration and value

The fellowship is three months long and is expected to start on 12 May 2025. It carries a total value of PKR 750,000 inclusive of all taxes.

Scope of work

The Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim Fellow will be expected to produce a 7,000-word investigative feature on this year’s theme (see above). Applicants are welcome to propose complementary forms of content such as a video or photo-essay, but the written component is mandatory. Broadly, the work could focus on, but is not limited to:

  • The prevalence and patterns of sexual violence against children in online spaces, specifically online grooming and abuse for purposes of child pornography.
  • Factors contributing to the proliferation of child sexual exploitation online.
  • The legal and institutional framework in Pakistan for combating online child abuse.
  • The impact of online child exploitation on the rights and wellbeing of children, including the psychological and social impact on child victims and their families.
  • Case studies and data collection from law enforcement agencies, child protection units and civil society organizations.
  • Insights from interviews with experts, activists and legal practitioners working on cybercrime and child protection.
  • Actionable recommendations to strengthen legal, institutional and technological measures to protect children from online exploitation.

Any text or images submitted must not have been published elsewhere. HRCP is responsible for publishing and disseminating the feature.

Application and award process

Applicants should submit (a) a CV (including the name and contact details of one referee) and (b) a brief technical (no more than 500 words) and financial proposal to submissions@hrcp-web.org latest by 24 April 2025.

Applications will be assessed by an independent committee of journalists and human rights defenders. The results of the awarding process will be announced in the national press and on HRCP’s website.

Note: HRCP staff members and practicing lawyers who are or have been associated with FGE Ebrahim Hosain are not eligible to apply.

Previous recipients

2023/24: Azwar Shakeel (Perilous Passage: Human Smuggling in Pakistan)