Europe & Central Asia Division Intern
Application Deadline: 21 August 2023
Internship Description: The Europe and Central Asia (โECAโ) Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW) is currently seeking a student to intern in the Berlin or Brussels office. The candidate should be available for three months beginning in September 2023 (dates and times are flexible).
Responsibilities:
The internship will focus on human rights abuses in the ECA region, particularly Eastern Europe and Central Asia, European Union, the Western Balkans, and Turkey. The intern will gain a strong understanding of the work of the ECA division and will intern closely with the divisionโs researchers and its advocacy arm. The internship will primarily focus on conducting background desk research; drafting summaries and protocols; and participating in meetings with government and/or EU Officials, diplomats and parliamentarians.
Students will also have opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, professional development workshops, special events relating to human rights, as well as network with other HRW interns, volunteers, and employees. As an HRW intern, students will take skills acquired in university and through social commitment and apply them in a professional setting.
Qualifications: To intern in the Berlin office, the candidate must be currently enrolled in a study program and be eligible for a pflichtpraktikum, i.e. mandatory internship in relation to their studies. To intern in the Brussels office, applicants must be enrolled in a university or other academic institution for the duration of the internship term. The internship must be a required part of the internโs academic program. In some circumstances, applicants may also be recent graduates of an academic program who are undergoing an internship for further training in Brussels. Students with relevant coursework focusing on the Western Balkans, the EU, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, human rights, migration, and international law are strongly encouraged to apply. Strong writing and research skills with previous experience in the field of human rights or in countries of the region is highly desirable. Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in English is essential. To intern in Brussels, speaking, reading and writing skills in at least one other EU language are desirable. To intern in Berlin, German speaking, reading, and writing skills are desirable. Applicants should be well-organized, self-motivated, and reliable with a strong interest in international human rights. Computer skills (i.e., Microsoft Office, internet applications) are required.
Applicants who are offered an internship must possess valid work authorization in Germany or Belgium for the duration of the internship.
Compensation: In Berlin, interns will receive a gross monthly stipend of EUR 450 to help offset living expenses in accordance with HRW policy and the intern. This gross stipend will be adjusted per month to account for the internโs schedules. In Brussels, interns who are currently enrolled students, completing this internship as a required part of their university program, will be reimbursed for their lunch and local travel costs as pre-approved by HRW and in accordance with HRW policy. Those interns under the Professional Immersion Convention (PIC) will receive EUR 830 per month, in accordance with HRW policy, but will not receive reimbursements for food and travel. Students are often able to arrange academic credit, as HRW internships may offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by the HRW staff, and interaction with other international organizations and foreign and domestic government officials. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.
How to Apply: Please apply immediately by visiting our online job portal at: https://careers.hrw.org and attaching a CV/resume, letter of interest/cover letter, and a brief writing sample. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted further.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, please email internships@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.
Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.
Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.