Internship Human Rights Programme

The intern will support the Human Rights Programme under the supervision of the Manager, engaging in research, reporting, advocacy, and organizational tasks related to UN human rights mechanisms and parliamentary engagement. The internship is full-time based in Geneva from August 2026 to July 2027.

Responsibilities

• Attend and report on meetings in Geneva of the UN human rights mechanisms with whom the IPU has established or foresees to establish cooperation.
• Contribute to internal reflections on how to strengthen the engagement of the IPU and Member Parliaments with these mechanisms and on how best to collect and disseminate information on good practices of engagement.
• Carry out research on reports and documents from UN human rights mechanisms as well as on the human rights situation of selected countries.
• Carry out research on the work of parliaments on children’s rights and possibly other topics covered by the other UN human rights mechanisms.
• Draft correspondence to parliaments to share information on their involvement with UN human rights mechanisms or their participation in any events or activities organized by the Human Rights Programme.
• Support the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) aspect of the IPU human rights campaign by collecting, tracking and analyzing data on campaign activities, outcomes and impact, and contributing to reporting and learning processes.
• Engage with MPs, both remotely and in person during major parliamentary meetings, including at dedicated campaign booths during IPU Assemblies and events, to promote participation in the campaign’s advocacy and activation mechanisms; maintain an up-to-date registry of commitments; and follow up on pledges to document actions taken at the national level.
• Contribute to the visibility and dissemination of campaign results by documenting success stories, impact evidence and lessons learned, and supporting the development of communication and knowledge products that showcase campaign achievements.
• Help with the organization of virtual or in-person meetings and other activities of the Human Rights Programme involving partners and other organizations.
• Perform any other assignments related to the work of the Human Rights Programme as required.

Requirements

• University degree in law, political science, international relations, or related fields.
• A graduate-level degree (with a specialization or component in human rights) is an asset.
• Experience in human rights-related research or work.
• Specific experience on UN human rights mechanisms is an asset.
• Knowledge of the functioning of national parliaments will be appreciated.
• Sound research, analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to work and organize work independently.
• Fluency, both oral and written, in English and French.
• Knowledge of other languages is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in computer skills (MS Office applications, Internet).

Skills

• Human Rights Research
• UN Human Rights Mechanisms
• Parliamentary Engagement
• Legal Research
• Political Analysis
• Report Writing
• Advocacy
• Organizational Skills
• Independent Work
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Internet Research

Languages

English, French