Navigating the World of Human Rights Internships: A Comprehensive Guide

Human rights internships offer invaluable opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and contribute to the advancement of human rights and social justice. These internships serve as a crucial link between academic knowledge and real-world application, providing a pathway for individuals to pursue careers in this vital field. This article provides a comprehensive overview of human rights internship requirements, covering various aspects such as eligibility, application processes, program structures, and potential career pathways.

The Value of Human Rights Internships

Many individuals committed to human rights were first introduced to the field through an internship. These programs provide rich professional, personal, and intellectual opportunities. Internships offer real-world work experience in the policy arena to students interested in civil and human rights and social justice. They are fully integrated into staff activities and involved in communications, development, field, organizational management, and policy work. Training, experience, and mentoring are keys to success in the field.

Types of Human Rights Internships

Human rights internships are offered by a variety of organizations, including:

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs): These organizations are actively involved in monitoring and responding to human rights violations, grass roots mobilization, or similar activities.
Intergovernmental Organizations: These include bodies like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which offers internships to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations and help them gain experience in the work of the Organization.
Governmental Bodies: Examples include the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program with the US House of Representatives, which provides opportunities to work on human rights policy from a congressional perspective.
Human Rights Campaign: Interns at the Human Rights Campaign are encouraged to apply for full-time jobs as they become available, and many of our staff members are former interns.

These internships can be in-person, remote, or hybrid, depending on the organization and the specific role.

General Eligibility Requirements

While specific requirements vary depending on the organization and the nature of the internship, some common eligibility criteria include:

Read also: A Guide to HRC Internships

Academic Standing: Many internships require applicants to be currently enrolled in a degree program or to have recently graduated. For undergraduate internships, completion of at least three semesters of coursework is often required. Some programs are specifically for upper-level undergraduate, graduate, or law students.
Educational Background: Applicants should have a background or demonstrated interest in human rights, international relations, foreign policy, or related fields.
Skills and Experience: Desired skills often include strong research, writing, and communication abilities. Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is generally expected. Some internships may require specific skills such as Photoshop or video editing.
Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is typically required, and proficiency in other languages may be an asset, particularly for international internships.
Visa and Travel: For international internships, applicants must be able to obtain the necessary visa and arrange their travel.
Financial Resources: Interns are often responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses.

To be eligible for the United Nations internship programme, applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Application Process

The application process for human rights internships typically involves the following steps:

Identifying Opportunities: Research and identify internships that align with your interests, skills, and career goals.
Submitting Application Materials: Prepare and submit the required application materials, which may include:
- Resume: A summary of your relevant work history, coursework, educational achievements, and honors/awards received.
- Cover Letter: A statement of your interest in the internship and how your skills and experience align with the organization's needs.
- Writing Sample: A sample of your writing, demonstrating your research, analytical, and communication skills.
- References: Contact information for supervisors, professors, or colleagues who can attest to your abilities and character.
- Essays: Responses to specific questions about your interest in human rights and your qualifications for the internship.
Interviews: If selected, you may be invited to participate in interviews, either in person or remotely.

Read also: Exploring UMich Human Resources

It is recommended focusing on the essay questions and writing good essays for each question. References should be supervisors, professors, or colleagues.

Internship Program Structures and Responsibilities

Internship programs vary in structure and focus, but common responsibilities include:

Research: Investigating human rights issues and gathering information from various sources.
Writing and Reporting: Drafting analytical papers, reports, and other documents.
Advocacy: Supporting advocacy efforts by preparing materials, attending meetings, and engaging with policymakers.
Communications: Assisting with social media, website content, and other communication activities.
Program Support: Providing administrative and logistical support to program staff.
Meeting Participation: Providing substantive and technical servicing of meetings, backstopping fact-finding and technical cooperation activities as well as field operations and supporting other activities.

Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with a description of duties and a workplan. Upon completion of the internship, both the supervisor and the intern are required to complete a final report describing what was achieved during the internship. In addition, every intern is requested to complete an evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to OHCHR's Administrative Section.

Financial Considerations

It is essential to consider the financial implications of undertaking a human rights internship. Many internships are unpaid, and interns are responsible for covering their own expenses. However, some organizations offer stipends or funding to help offset these costs. Some internships are paid twelve-week internships for the fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Timelines

Planning for summer fellowships occurs year-round, most activities begin in the fall semester.

Fall: Students should begin looking for host human rights organizations and contact organizations in which they are interested, in order to explore whether there is a fit between their interests and skills and the organization’s needs.
December - January: Apply to host human rights organizations. Students intending to apply for an HRP summer fellowship and who have not yet made an initial OPIA advising appointment are strongly encouraged to do so.
February/March: Review the application process for HLS Summer Public Interest Funding with the HLS Student Financial Services Office.
March: Notification of HRP fellowship awards will be sent to applicants. Final award of grant is contingent upon the student securing an approved placement.

Building a Career in Human Rights

Human rights internships can be a valuable stepping stone to a career in the field. Many organizations prioritize hiring former interns for full-time positions. The experience and skills gained during an internship can also make you a more competitive candidate for other human rights jobs. Interns at the Human Rights Campaign are encouraged to apply for full-time jobs as they become available, and many of our staff members are former interns.

Specific Internship Programs

The Advocates for Human Rights

Interns are part of The Advocates for Human Rights' mission to involve volunteers in research, education, and advocacy to build broad constituencies around the world. If you are interested in interning with The Advocates for Human Rights and can commit 8-12 hours per week (September to May) or 20-40 hours per week (June-August), consider becoming an intern.

Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign offer fall, spring, and summer internships. Their internship program currently accepts in-person and remote applicants. Their office is in Washington, DC, and in-person interns will need to be able to get to our office and provide their own accommodations.

Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program

The Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program is available to enthusiastic upper-level undergraduate, graduate or law students interested in human rights and foreign policy to work as interns in the Commission’s Democratic staff offices. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in meetings with human rights activists, foreign policy analysts and other congressional offices. They will also have the opportunity to attend trainings and professional development opportunities on Capitol Hill. The Democratic staff of the Commission is able to offer a $1,000 per month stipend to one intern per trimester through the House’s paid internship program.

Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP)

Founded in 1984 by Professor Jack Greenberg, the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP) provides first- and second-year J.D. prisons, establishing international criminal tribunals, helping write a Freedom of Information Act for Guatemala, and working to improve environmental law in Hungary.

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