Human Rights Intern (OHCHR) | Geneva: Apply Now!
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) actively seeks a dedicated and collaborative Human Rights Intern to join its Human Rights Treaties Branch (HRTB) in Geneva, Switzerland. This provides a fantastic opportunity, therefore, for students and recent graduates passionate about human rights to gain valuable, hands-on experience within a crucial UN body.
About This OHCHR Human Rights Internship
This internship, first and foremost, offers direct exposure to the vital work of the human rights treaty bodies. These committees, comprised of independent experts, monitor the implementation of core international human rights treaties. Consequently, you will directly contribute to activities supporting States and other stakeholders as they uphold human rights worldwide.
Job ID: 259664 Job Network: Political, Peace and Humanitarian Category and Level: Internship, I-1 Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland
Your Responsibilities as a Human Rights Intern
Your daily responsibilities will change, naturally, depending on your specific assignment within the HRTB (Treaty Bodies, Capacity Building Program, or Funds) and your background. Duties commonly include, but certainly are not limited to, the following tasks:
- Conducting research and analysis: For instance, you will prepare country and legal analyses, draft legal background papers, and research treaty body jurisprudence.
- Supporting communications: Additionally, you’ll assist with individual and inter-state communications under treaty body complaints procedures.
- Assisting with meetings and sessions: Furthermore, you’ll take notes, prepare documentation, and provide administrative support for treaty body meetings.
- Contributing to outreach: Moreover, you will offer input for newsletters, update databases (like the Universal Human Rights Index), and develop training exercises.
- Reporting: Beyond that, you’ll prepare updates for the Branch and assist with reports for the General Assembly and Human Rights Council.
- Project Support: Lastly, you’ll help organize training activities, develop materials, and evaluate project proposals for funding.
This role typically combines in-person and remote work. Importantly, you can request adjustments to the duration and modality if selected.
Human Rights Internship Duration and Modality
- Expected Duration: This announcement, in essence, creates a pool of qualified candidates. Therefore, we will fill internship vacancies between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
- Minimum Duration: 3 months
- Maximum Duration: 6 months
- Modality: The internship offers flexibility, designed as both in-person and remote. As previously mentioned, you can request adjustments to the duration and specific modality.
- Application Deadline: June 29, 2026
Who OHCHR Seeks for This Human Rights Role (Qualifications)
- Competencies: OHCHR highly values a collaborative, reliable, and communicative team player. You should actively demonstrate an ability to successfully interact with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and beliefs. This includes, crucially, a clear willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions.
- Academic Qualifications:
- You must currently enroll in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); OR
- You must currently enroll in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
- Experience: No prior professional experience is necessary. However, we strongly encourage candidates with relevant coursework or experience from projects, volunteering, or research in fields like:
- Business Administration, Management, Strategic Communications and Design
- Project Management, Public Administration
- Law and Legal Administration (Criminal Justice)
- Human Resources Management
- Languages: Fluency in English or French is required. Knowledge of the other language, nevertheless, provides a strong advantage. Knowing another official UN language (such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) would be an additional benefit.
How to Apply for the Human Rights Internship
Ready to contribute to human rights on a global scale? If so, then:
Apply Now: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/259664?language=en
