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Go further as a team

Internships

International Service for Human Rights internships and fellowships provide hands-on experience working for an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as the opportunity to contribute to our work supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, building and leading human rights coalitions, and responding to significant and systemic human rights concerns. 

Our human rights internships mix exciting projects! As an intern, your talent will be recognised and you will fully participate in the life of our NGO. Since 2021, ISHR is committed to offering paid internships only. Our interns receive some stipend from a third party or directly from ISHR. Per the Canton of Geneva labor law, a tripartite internship agreement (between the teaching establishment or third party, the intern and ISHR) must be signed for Geneva internship. This requirement doesn’t apply to New York internships.

ISHR offers two rounds of internships per year. The 1st round starts on 1 February and ends on 31 July and the 2nd round starts on 1 September and ends on 28/29 February. Vacancy announcements are advertised. 

ISHR doesn’t accept spontaneous applications.

Open Internship Positions:

Geneva Programme Internship: 2 September 2024 – 28 February 2025 (6 months)

Apply here by 12 May 2024

New York Programme Internship: 2 September 2024 – 28 February 2025 (6 months)

Apply here by 16 June 2024

Training and Opportunities:

  • Interns are fully included in staff meetings, which provide a comprehensive understanding of the work of an international human rights NGO
  • Interns may also have opportunities to interact and network with human rights defenders, diplomats or other UN and NGO professionals both at the United Nations and at ISHR’s office (or remotely) during meetings;
  • Where appropriate or necessary for their work, ISHR staff will provide practical sessions and guidance, for example on monitoring UN mechanisms, drafting reports and advocacy documents, utilizing communications technologies, etc.
  • Interns will be supervised by one or two experienced managers.

ISHR’s commitment to equal employment opportunity:

ISHR is firmly committed to having a diverse team and to the principle of equal employment opportunity. ISHR’s policy is to practice fair and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection procedures and strive for diverse, international and multicultural personnel.

We welcome all kinds of diversity. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction including on grounds of race, colour, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or sex characteristics, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, socio-economic status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We particularly welcome applications from systematically, historically and/or traditionally discriminated against groups, including women, persons of colour, LGBTIQ+ persons, persons with disabilities and other groups.