Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling - Intern

Job Description

Work Location: Vienna, Austria (In-person or remotely)

Expected duration: Six Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the protocols thereto, which include the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Protocols. UNODC is mandated to promote global adherence to the Protocols and to assist Member States in their efforts to effectively implement them. UNODC provides technical cooperation in assessing and strengthening national responses on prevention, investigation and prosecution of the crimes, developing international cooperation, and respecting the rights of migrants and victims.

The internship positions are located in the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS) of the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB) of the Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Vienna. The Section is looking for several interns for its different teams (focusing inter alia on the delivery of technical cooperation, normative and policy work, knowledge development and innovation, and partnerships).

The UNODC Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS) works to advance the international agenda on countering trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants in all UN related inter-agency and inter-governmental processes and fora, and supports, among others, the activities relating to the provision of legislative assistance to UN Member States upon request. It further works to develop and disseminate knowledge on trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants through the publication of thematic and technical tools.

Internships are UNPAID and full-time (40 hours, 5 days per week). The internships can be in person or remote.

For more information on UNODC, please visit our website: www.unodc.org

This internship is located in the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS), Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB), Division of Treaty Affairs (DTA). The Intern reports to a Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC.

The interns will provide substantive, organizational and logistic support to the daily work of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section. Particularly, the interns will be focusing on some of the below set of tasks, depending on which sub-team they will be part of:

• Perform background research and analysis on country situation, trends, legal frameworks and concepts relating to human trafficking and migrant smuggling;
• Assist in technical support to the planning, implementation and monitoring of regional and national technical assistance projects and activities;
• Support in the preparation of training material for technical assistance activities such as capacity-building workshops;
• Assist in collecting and analyzing case-law, as well as managing information on relevant UNODC online platforms;
• Assist in identifying areas for knowledge development and perform research on emerging and cross-cutting issues;
• Assist in the preparation and holding of intergovernmental meetings, other events such as the Working Groups on Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants, as well as thematic expert group meetings, briefings and discussions;
• Contribute to the drafting of official UNODC submissions or related guidance notes;
• Assist in strengthening the involvement of UNODC in inter-agency fora;
• Assist in liaising with offices within the United Nations, other external organizations and Member States;
• Assist in preparing briefing notes, statements, presentations and communication materials;
• Compile weekly press clippings on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons;
• Carry out other tasks related to the implementation of the UNODC Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants, as requested.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) Be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent). (OFFICIAL WRITTEN PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE ABOVE POSSIBILITIES MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION);
• Have studies in criminology, law, political or social sciences, international relations or in a related field;
• Have sound analytical skills, good drafting ability; computer skills, especially MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Be computer literate in standard software applications;
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

English and French are working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Deadline : Dec 30, 2025