International Service for Human Rights

Internships with ISHR offer unique opportunities for human rights activists to observe and learn about both the UN human rights system and the international human rights non-governmental community.

The principal focus of the internships will be learning about the workings of the international human rights system. Geneva is the hub of international human rights activity and the focus of much activity by governments, and national and regional human rights organisations.

Objective

To develop the skills and knowledge of committed human rights activists in the promotion and protection of human rights. Interns will:

• acquire valuable experience of working in a human rights NGO
• gain extensive exposure to the UN human rights system and its mechanisms
• develop their skills and knowledge through a professional development and training programme

Browse the page below to know more about our internship programme:

• Vacancies
• Professional development and training
• How to apply
• Length of internships
• Remuneration

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Vacancies

ISHR trains motivated interns to work in our Geneva office. Please note that if you are a non-EU citizen and the internship is not integral to your studies or if you are a non-EU citizen and have already compeleted an internship in Geneva, we may not be able to secure your work visa. 

All  successful candidates  will need to provide a bank statement and a  letter from a garantor to demonstrate that you can cover your expenses in Geneva (2,500chf per month).

We offer full-time and part-time internships from 3-6 months to work with:

• The communications team
• The UN monitoring team
• The training team
• The finance team
• The fundraising team
• The regional and national team (to be updated)

Communications team

The Communications team offers an internship to work on various projects including developing and updating ISHR's new website and customer relations management system, evaluating ISHR's publications in line with assessing needs of human rights defenders, promotion and increased visibility of ISHR's publications, designing some elements of ISHR's visual identity and/or communication tools (promotional leaflets, website, etc), editing reports and publications,  and networking and interaction with stakeholders (mainly NGOs and defenders) during the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and other UN human rights oriented meetings.

To be considered, applicants should:

• have a background in marketing/communication, sociology or graphic and Web design
• have some IT skills including a good command of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, at least one Web publishing/content management system software (Joomla ideally), at least one design software (InDesign, Xpress, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat)
• have the desire and ability to propose and implement software-based solutions to the work of the Communications Officer
• be fluent (oral and written) in English and fluency in French is desirable
• have excellent communication and people skills
• be able to multi-task and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• be flexible and willing to carry out the less creative tasks (data entry, questionnaire analysis, etc)
• be motivated to work in a multi-cultural environment and have a genuine interest/desire to become familiar with the work of a human rights NGO

 UN monitoring team

An internship with the UN monitoring team offers interns a unique opportunity to view the UN human rights system at work. Interns are required to monitor UN human rights meetings, including the Human Rights Council, Treaty Body sessions, and working groups. Interns substantively contribute to ISHR’s publications and analytical material, such as the Council Monitor, the UPR Monitor, the Treaty Body Monitor and other regular online publications.

To be considered, applicants should:

• be motivated to pursue a career in human rights and have a particular interest in the UN human rights system
• have a background in international human rights law, international relations, political science or a related discipline;
• have a very high standard of written and spoken English;
• be able to report thoroughly and accurately on the meetings they attend
• be flexible, including a willingness to cover the evening sessions of some UN meetings
• be able to work as a member of a team and willing to participate in a variety of tasks, as required

Internship with the training team

An internship with the Training Programme gives the intern a chance to be involved in ISHR's core activities in training human rights defenders to effectively use UN human rights mechanisms. The intern will be expected to help plan and co-ordinate Geneva-based training courses, liaise with human rights activists and academics,  UN staff, and facilitate interaction between course participants and UN special procedures, diplomats and key NGO representatives.

To be considered, applicants should:

• be familiar with or have an interest in international human rights law and procedures
• be committed to human rights education
• have very good interpersonal and leadership skills
• be highly organised
• be fluent in English.  Fluency in French is required for training courses in French.
• have good teamworking skills
• have experience with working with a wide range of individuals from a variety of backgrounds

Internship with the Finance Team

The finance team offers an internship to work on various financial projects in line with the activities of the organization. The intern will provide assistance to the finance officers and carry out some tasks such as follow-up on the budgets, track the funding, expenditures and balances, update monthly reports, prepare monthly payments, ensure regular bookkeeping and manage petty cash.
The intern substantively contributes to the implementation of new procedures related to finance and analytical accountability.

To be considered, applicants should:

• Have a background in finance and administration
• Have a good command of Word, Excel, and accountability software would be an asset
• Be fluent in English and fluency in French is desirable
• be able to multi-task and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• be flexible and willing to carry out the less interesting tasks (bookkeeping, bill paying)
• be motivated to work in a multi-cultural environment

Professional development and training

ISHR will supervise and manage the interns’ work, support their involvement in other capacity building activities and facilitate the acquirement of relevant permits. ISHR shall ensure the interns are provided with an initial detailed briefing regarding living and working in Geneva and we will also  fully support them to ensure their stay in Geneva is safe, comfortable and enjoyable. Throughout the internship, interns are given a range of training opportunities.

Depending on which UN sessions are being held during the internship and the needs of the interns, a typical training programme for a 3-6 months internship usually includes:

• intern meetings, at which interns from all programmes have an opportunity to discuss and debate as a group, activities in which they have been involved and developments within the UN human rights bodies
• staff meetings which may include presentations from ISHR staff members on current activities and their own experiences
• presentations at ISHR by members of the UN treaty monitoring bodies, Special Rapporteurs, experienced activists, NGO activists and visiting academics present in Geneva in association with events on the UN human rights calendar
• opportunities to attend external events such as conferences and evening lectures to enhance interns’ professional interaction with other Geneva-based NGOs, UN institutions and professionals
• opportunities to participate in Geneva based training courses that  may be running at the time of the internship
• practical sessions and guidance in monitoring and writing reports for various UN mechanisms, using ISHR and OHCHR websites, familiarisation sessions on the UN Human Rights system and train-the-trainer sessions on training human rights defenders and using interactive methodology
• practical career workshops on working in the human rights field such as developing CV writing skills, applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, individual feedback on mock interviews, panel discussions on careers with ISHR staff
• individual supervision and mentoring. To enhance the sustainability of the internship and to help ensure the interns’ skills are developed appropriately, they will each be required to fill in a self-evaluation form which draws on the knowledge and skills acquired during the internship
• social activities such as ski and sauna days, dinners/drinks out, visits to areas of cultural interest with a dynamic and friendly crowd

Application process

Applicants should submit an Application Form (download as  Word or  PDF) and CV (with two references) with a clear indication to which programme they would like to apply. Internship applications not specifying a particular programme will not be considered. Those applying for the UN monitoring and regional and national team need to accompany their application with a writing example in English on a political or law-related topic to Lizzy Openshaw, the internship coordinator at:

Length of internships

Internships are offered for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum period of 6 months. We strongly favour applications from those who are willing to commit to a longer internship. Applications should be forwarded at least three months in advance of the anticipated start date in order to ensure work permit and visa.  Applications for internships are accepted all year round unless otherwise stated on this webpage.

Remuneration

Unfortunately, ISHR cannot currently fund interns. Interns must find sufficient funding for their travel to Geneva, health insurance, daily living and lodging costs.