Human Rights Intern

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern under the general guidance of a primary supervisor will be assigned to the Women Human Rights and Gender Section (WHRGS) in the Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch (END), in Geneva, Switzerland. The Women's Human Rights and Gender Section (WHRGS) was established in 2007 to work on women's human rights and gender integration and to systematically inform all areas of OHCHR's activities. The Section works to protect and promote women's human rights by highlighting discriminatory laws and policies which allow gender-based discrimination and bring them in line with the international human rights law. In addition, the Section works to promote gender integration across OHCHR and broader UN planning and programmes. The Section also develops and supports High Commissioner leadership on women's human rights and gender equality, produces thematic reports, statements and tools pertaining to women's human rights and gender equality, internal guidance and conducts training, capacity-building and briefings in these areas, facilitates dialogue among stakeholders, and develops a network of experts and civil society organizations, including women human rights defenders, in order to leverage expertise and advance the women's human rights agenda.

Qualifications/special skills

The applicants must, at the time of submission, be a graduate or enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master's degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or, be a graduate or enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree) preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field, preferably with a focus on gender related issues. OR have graduated with a university degree as defined above AND, if selected, must commence the internship on the date specified in the Acceptance letter. APPLICANTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English is required, knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset (i.e. French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).