Internship: Special Procedures

Job Description

Job Opening ID: 271235
Job Network : -
Job Family : Human Rights Affairs
Category and Level : Internship, I-1
Duty Station : GENEVA
Department/Office : Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date Posted : Feb 1, 2026
Deadline : Dec 30, 2026

Work Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration: This full-time assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months, renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, upon further approval by the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Office of the United Nations (UN) 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 in the economic sphere;
• Widening the democratic space;
• Early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity.

This announcement broadcasts international internship assignments with Special Procedures Sections in the Thematic and Special Procedures Division. The Special Procedures are responsible for thematic research and policy development, human rights mainstreaming across all work areas of the United Nations system, development of tools and learning packages and provision of expertise to a variety of stakeholders on a wide range of human rights themes. They support mandate holders appointed by the Human Rights Council – Special Rapporteurs, Working Groups or Independent Experts, to report and advise on human rights from a thematic perspective.

The Division comprises three Branches, specifically:

• Equality and Non-Discrimination (END): provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandate holders) appointed by the United Human Rights Council to report and advise on thematic human rights issues which include 11 special procedure mandates: sexual orientation and gender identity; violence against women and girls, discrimination against women and girls; people of African descent; racism, minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, sale of children, religion or belief, and older persons.
• Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space (RACS): provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandate holders) appointed by the United Human Rights Council to report and advise on thematic human rights issues which include:
  • Section RACS I: 10 special procedure mandates, namely those on arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, countering terrorism, torture, summary executions, independence of judges and lawyers, truth, slavery, trafficking in persons, and international order;
  • Section RACS II: eight special procedures mandates: freedom of assembly and association, freedom of opinion or expression, human rights defenders, business and human rights, privacy, mercenarism, migrants, and internally displaced persons.
• Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESC): provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandate holders) appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to report and advise on thematic human rights issues such as:
  • Section DESC I: nine special procedure mandates, namely, water and sanitation, food, housing, right to health, right to education, peasants, leprosy, albinism, and cultural rights;
  • Section DESC II: eight special procedure mandates, namely right to development, solidarity, unilateral coercive measures, foreign debt, poverty, toxics, environment and climate change.

Also, the Coordination Information and Communications Unit supports the Special Procedures system as a whole, in particular its Coordination Committee, facilitates and ensures coordination and coherence in the implementation of the working methods of SP, the Manual of Operations and the Code of Conduct, supports the communications process of SP, coordinates the SP engagement with the intergovernmental bodies as well as their increased engagement with the UN system at headquarters and in the field, and enhances the visibility and impact of the work of SP.

For more information on the Special Procedures and its work, including an overview of the different themes covered, go to: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the overall direction of the Chief of Special Procedures and the guidance of the respective Chief of Section, the intern reports to the Human Rights Officer in the assigned work unit. This full-time assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months, renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, upon further approval by the supervisor.

The intern shall support OHCHR in fulfilling its mission to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.

Daily responsibilities of the Special Procedures human rights intern will depend on activities carried-out within the assigned work unit and the individual’s background. Duties may include but are not limited to contributing to thematic reports or studies, including research of related literature, international law and jurisprudence and, in particular, the intern may:

• Assist in the preparation of official country visits, in particular through the drafting of country specific human rights assessments;
• Analyze human rights issues contained in cases and complaints addressed to the mandate holders;
• Draft letters on particular cases and complaints taken up by mandate holders, including summarizing the human rights violations alleged in the case and preparing a short legal analysis of these violations;
• Collect information and conduct research for the preparation of briefing notes, statements and other documents;
• Take notes of meetings with different stakeholders, in particular civil society representatives;
• Attend sessions of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and assist with the preparation of related activities and events;
• Assist in the organization of meetings and seminars;
• Translate documents;
• Perform other related duties as requested by supervisor, as appropriate.

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.

Qualifications/special skills

COMPETENCIES:

• Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

SKILLS:

To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, 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, 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.

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

Not available.

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: December 30, 2026