Job Description
Intern – OHCHR New York Office
Work Location:
New York
Expected Duration:
3 Months
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat Department responsible for:
- Strengthening international human rights mechanisms
- Enhancing equality and countering discrimination
- Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law
- Integrating human rights in development and the economic sphere
- Widening democratic space
- Early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence, and insecurity
This internship is based at the OHCHR New York Office, which represents the High Commissioner at UN Headquarters and ensures the integration of UN human rights norms, standards, and mechanisms in intergovernmental and interdepartmental processes.
The intern will report to the Chief of the Intergovernmental Affairs, Communications and Outreach Section (ICOS) and/or a Human Rights Officer, and support OHCHR’s mission to:
- Work for the protection of all human rights for all people
- Help empower people to realize their rights
- Assist those responsible for upholding such rights
Internship focus:
Supporting OHCHR’s efforts to integrate human rights into the work of intergovernmental bodies in New York.
Daily responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Researching, identifying, and analyzing international human rights trends, developments, and initiatives within intergovernmental bodies at the UN (especially the GA and SC), and preparing written summaries and reports
- Providing support in organizing relevant meetings and events
- Gathering best practices, statistics, and data related to human rights discussions in intergovernmental fora
- Supporting human rights officers on specific countries, regions, or thematic areas by attending and taking notes at meetings
- Assisting in drafting and editing reports, position papers, statements, talking points, presentations, and outreach materials
- Attending in-person or virtual meetings, as required
Qualifications/Special Skills:
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher)
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
Other requirements:
- Field of study must be closely related to the internship
- Official proof of enrollment or graduation must be submitted
- Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and MS Teams
- Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills are desirable
Languages:
- Fluency in spoken and written English is required
- Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an advantage
Additional Information:
- Interns are not financially remunerated
- Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution
- Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the internship location may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization
- Selected candidates should discuss specific visa requirements before accepting the offer
Deadline : Jul 21, 2025
