Disability Rights Division Intern

Disability Rights Division Intern

Application Deadline: November 22, 2024

The Disability Rights Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a law student, graduate level LL.M. student, or graduate student in a relevant field with a demonstrated strong interest in disability rights and international human rights to intern part-time in our London or Brussels office. Ideally the candidate will be available for four to six months beginning in January 2025, dates and times are flexible. The candidate will intern closely with HRW staff and will build skills in conducting desk research, advocacy, and media monitoring in relation to human rights. The intern will gain experience within a small office of a large, well-organized, international non-profit organization and gain knowledge of key disability rights issues and priority human rights issues in the organization.

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct background desk research and draft memos on a range of disability rights issues, including shackling or chaining of people with psychosocial disabilities (mental health conditions), involuntary hospitalization and treatment, abuses in residential institutions, as well as existing good practices;
• Draft advocacy documents such as press releases, letters, and submissions to the United Nations;
• Participate in meetings with disability experts, as the opportunity arises; and
• Other projects may be assigned as they arise and match the intern’s interests and abilities.

Students may also have opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, 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 school and apply them in a professional setting.

Qualifications:

• For interns in the United Kingdom, applicants must be enrolled in a graduate-level academic program for the duration of the internship.
• For interns in Belgium, applicants should be enrolled in a graduate-level academic program for the duration of the internship or be recent graduates of an academic program who are undergoing an internship for further training.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required;
• Fluency in another language is desirable;
• Well-organized, self-motivated, and reliable candidates are desirable;
• Previous desk research experience with an understanding of, and a strong interest in international human rights is preferred;
• Interest and/or experience in the disability rights field is desirable;
• Relevant coursework in disability rights, human rights, law, and/or policy is a plus; and
• Internet research and computer skills (i.e., Microsoft Office, internet applications) are required. 

Applicants who are offered an internship must possess valid work authorization in Belgium or the United Kingdom for the duration of the internship.

Compensation: 

Internship compensation varies by jurisdiction based on local law and HRW policy. If based in the United Kingdom, interns will be paid an hourly wage of GBP 13.85 per hour. Human Rights Watch offers interns in the United Kingdom twenty (20) days of vacation prorated per year pursuant to the schedule and length of internship. If based in Belgium, interns who are currently enrolled masters or law students, completing this internship as a required part of their university program, must provide proof of external funding and will be reimbursed for their lunch and local travel costs as pre-approved by HRW and in accordance with HRW policy. Interns in Belgium who are recent graduates will receive a gross stipend of EUR 1035.20 per month.

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, and a 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, or if you require accommodations during the application process, 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.