Key Internship Information
Organization: OHCHR – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Country: Switzerland
City: Geneva
Office: OHCHR Geneva, Switzerland
Grade: I-1
Application Deadline: 1 September 2026
Work Location: Internships are available on a full-time basis and can be conducted remotely or in-person.
Expected duration: 3 months with possibility of extension up to 6 months This is a GJO used to build a pool of qualified candidates and will be used to fill internship vacancies between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties may include but are not limited to assisting the Section in the systematic collection and analysis of information regarding the human rights situation of countries in the Middle East and North Africa region and in the preparation of reports, documents and other written materials and, in particular, the interns may:
– Assist Desk Officers in researching and drafting individual cases of alleged human rights violations; support Desk Officers in responding to requests for information relating to the human rights situation in the region and/ or countries concerned.
– Assist Desk Officers in preparing and updating Country profiles, briefing packages, daily and monthly updates/reports.
– Support Desk Officers in the preparation of relevant documents on thematic and country specific human rights issues; assist Desk Officers in taking minutes of meetings, attending side-events, Human Rights Council sessions, Treaty Bodies review and Universal Periodic Review (UPR) review.
– Perform other related duties as requested by supervisor, as appropriate.
Qualifications/special skills
Competency: We are looking for a team player who is collaborative, reliable, and communicative, with a strong commitment to supporting colleagues and advancing the team’s shared mission of promoting and protecting human rights. Skills: Ability to work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a commitment to upholding human rights principles. Academic Qualifications: The applicant must: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent); Experience: No prior experience is necessary. We seek candidates with relevant coursework preferably in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field. We are open to a broad range of project and research experience backgrounds. Language: 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 Arabic language is an advantage.
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.
Application Link:
https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/263637?language=en
