Internship - Human Rights - Office of the Director, Civil Society Team (Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division)
Job Opening ID: 286607
Job Family: Human Rights Affairs
Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel – Internships, I-1
Recruitment Type: Intern
Duty Station: GENEVA
Department/Office: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date Posted: Oct 21, 2026
Deadline: Nov 3, 2026
Work Location
Geneva
Expected duration
3 - 6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
This internship is expected to start on 11 January 2027, and is located in the Office of the Director, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division (CTMD), namely its Civil Society Team which is responsible for the civil society's engagement with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. 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; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity. Consisting of three branches, the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division has a core mandate to support the Human Rights Council (HRC) and its mechanisms, as well as the ten human rights treaty bodies and the administration of a number of Voluntary Trust Funds. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the overall direction of the Special Assistant to the Director of Division the intern reports to the Human Rights Officer in the assigned work team. This assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months, possibly renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, upon further approval by the supervisor. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. This internship is an UNPAID and full-time engagement that provides a framework through which individuals from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the United Nations by way of their service within Secretariat entities. Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations with a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter, and have the demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs - which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
RESPONSIBILITIES: 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 intern in the Civil Society Team, Office of the Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division may include but are not limited to: assisting in supporting the work of the Human Rights Council, its subsidiary bodies and Treaty Bodies and civil society's engagement with them; assisting in facilitating the organization of non-governmental organizations (NGO) related meetings in the context of the Human Rights Council and Universal Periodic Review Working Group sessions and other meetings, as appropriate; assisting with the review of NGO written statements submitted at the Human Rights Council, preparing notes and statistics, keeping track and compiling information on the engagement with human rights mechanisms; maintaining relevant database and webpages; drafting correspondence, conducting a variety of research, collecting and disseminating, as appropriate, information pertaining to the Division; contributing to outreach and human rights mainstreaming initiatives; attending to queries/ requests from the Director, the Branch Chiefs and stakeholders; facilitating internal exchange of information and practices as well as coordination on relevant human rights mechanisms and with the other parts of the Office and the United Nations (UN); assisting in the dissemination of information about the work of human rights mechanisms; undertaking research on issues of relevance to the work of the Division; assisting with collaborative work and activities organized with other Divisions, United Nations agencies and bodies; performing other related duties as appropriate.
Qualifications/special 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. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master's or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English or French is required, knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language would be an advantage (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).
Additional Information
Not available.
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.
