Internship - The Office of the Focal Point for Gender Equality, The Hague

24590 | Registry

Due to the volume of applications received, only successful applicants will be contacted by the Court.

Required Documents for this Application

Please note that you will need to have the following information ready in order to complete your application:

• A completed “Duties and Responsibilities Form” (refer to step 1 on your eRecruitment Profile page).
• Motivation letter (maximum of 400 words in French or English).
• Two reference letters (one academic).
• Scanned copies of university degrees and/or diplomas.
• Scanned copies of official academic transcripts that state your courses, subject, results and completion date.
• One example of a visual and/or knowledge product that you have developed during your academic work (individually or as the lead contributor). This may include an infographic, factsheet, presentation, report, dashboard, social media campaign asset, communication package, knowledge brief, or other relevant product.

Contract Duration

Interns are required to work full time for a period of six months (to be agreed to prior to commencement).

The Opportunity

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individual charges with the gravest crimes of concerns to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crime of aggression. The Court is participating in the global fight to end impunity, and through the international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent the crimes from happening again. You can contribute to this cause by joining the ICC.

Organisational Context

The President, the Prosecutor and the Registrar established a Focal Point for Gender Equality (“Focal Point”) at the International Criminal Court. The purpose of the Focal Point is, inter alia, to assist the Principals in their efforts to strengthen gender-related policies across the Court and to address issues related to employment conditions of women in the institution, including gender balance at all levels of employment.

A central focus of the role is driving and monitoring the operationalization of the Court’s recently launched second strategy: the Gender Equality and Enabling Environment Strategy (2026–2029). This comprehensive framework is anchored in three strategic priorities:

• Strategic Priority 1: Gender-responsive, safe, and inclusive processes
• Strategic Priority 2: Gender parity, diversity, and inclusive leadership
• Strategic Priority 3: Gender-equitable work-life balance

The Focal Point’s key functions include (i) monitoring the Court’s progress in strengthening gender equality; (ii) advocating on issues impacting women and gender; (iii) providing individual counselling; (iv) raising greater awareness through training programmes, workshops and events; and (v) advising on gender parity targets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Focal Point, the intern will perform the following duties:

• Support the implementation and tracking of action plans under the new Gender Equality and Enabling Environment Strategy (2026 – 2029).
• Conduct background research on gender equality, gender parity and gender mainstreaming related issues, assist in the preparation of policy and briefing notes.
• Assist in the preparation and design of knowledge products and advocacy materials, podcast episodes, newsletters, Intranet page content, etc.
• Assist in monitoring and reporting on gender equality and gender mainstreaming activities.
• Help to organize events, internal coordination meetings and trainings.
• Update reference database and intranet resources.
• Liaise and collaborate with internal partners on joint projects and initiatives.

Essential Qualifications

Education

All candidates must have a degree or be in the final stages of a relevant study at a recognised university. Candidates with a background in Gender Studies, Social Studies, Human Resource Management, Communication Studies, Law, and International Development with a gender focus are strongly encouraged to apply as this will be considered an asset.

Experience

Internship placements focus on candidates in the early stages of their professional careers. Practical experience is not an essential prerequisite for selection. Should there be a practical experience that is relevant to the work of the Court, it may be considered an asset. Applicants must have less than three years of relevant full-time professional experience to be considered for an internship.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understanding of and interest in gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and gender mainstreaming concepts, with the ability to apply a gender-sensitive lens to research, policy analysis, and daily operations.
• Able to adapt to multicultural and multilingual working environments.
• Possesses strong teamwork skills (listens, consults and communicates proactively).
• Has acquired a good standard of computer skills.
• Proven creativity in visual storytelling and communications, including hands-on experience designing infographics, social content, and promotional materials.
• Possesses excellent report writing/drafting and communication skills.

Knowledge of Languages

Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, French or English, is required. Working knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

Other criteria

It is the Court’s objective to have diversity and gender balance. And in line with the ICC’s efforts to improve geographical representation among staff, nationals of non-represented and under-represented countries at the ICC are encouraged to apply. The list can be found here.

Remuneration

Please note that internship and visiting professional placements at the ICC are unfunded. The ICC is not able to provide participants in the Internship and Visiting Professional Programme with any remuneration, nor is it possible to provide reimbursement for expenses incurred prior, during or after the internship or visiting professional placement.

Applicants must therefore be able to support themselves for the entire duration of their internship or visiting professional placement.