Technology, Rights, and Investigations Division Intern

Technology, Rights, and Investigations Division Intern 

Application Deadline: 5 January 2026

The Technology, Rights, and Investigations Division of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking an intern based in an HRW office in New York, London, or Berlin. The intern should ideally be available for approximately 16 hours per week beginning in mid to late February 2026 until late August 2026, dates and times are flexible.

Applicants in Germany must be an enrolled student for the duration of the internship term and be eligible for a Pflichtpraktikum, i.e. this should be a mandatory internship in relation to their studies.

The intern would be based in HRW’s Technology and Human Rights (THR) Team, which is housed in the Technology, Rights, and Investigations (TRI) Division. THR investigates how companies, governments, and other powerful actors develop and use technology in ways that impact peoples’ rights globally. We conduct research that helps to establish and vigorously defend the rights, norms and rules that govern powerful technologies and their use.

Responsibilities: The internship will focus on one or more of the following issues: the use of AI in armed conflicts, digital public infrastructure, or corporate accountability for technology companies. The intern will assist the team with specific tasks as follows:

1. Assisting with conducting background research and news monitoring;
2. Drafting and editing documents and correspondence related to any research the team is working on;
3. Updating and maintaining documents and database records;
4. Participating in, identifying, and understanding key issues;
5. Assisting with advocacy contacts mapping and related research; and
6. Other tasks may be assigned as they arise and when they match the interns interests.

Interns will also have opportunities to attend online 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 their studies and apply them to a professional setting.

Qualifications:

1. For interns in the United States, applicants must be enrolled students for the duration of the internship term.
2. For interns in United Kingdom, applicants must be an enrolled student or a recent graduate.
3. For interns in Germany, applicants must be an enrolled student for the duration of their internship term and the internship must be a compulsory prerequisite from the University. Interns must be eligible for and submit a “Bescheinigung über ein Pflichtpraktikum” before the start of their internship.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required, as well as computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
5. Applicants should be well-organized, self-motivated, reliable, flexible, and detail-oriented with excellent time management skills.
6. A demonstrated commitment to the major global human rights issues related to technology is required.
7. Experience with collaborating within a team is desirable.
8. Regular attendance in the office is required.

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

Compensation: Internship compensation varies by jurisdiction based on local laws and HRW policy. If based in the US, interns will be paid an hourly wage of USD 17.00 per hour. Human Rights Watch offers interns in the US twenty (20) days of vacation prorated per year pursuant to the work schedule and length of internship. Interns in the United Kingdom 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. Interns based in Germany will receive a gross monthly stipend of EUR 556 per month to help offset living expenses in accordance with HRW policy. This gross stipend will be prorated per month to account for the intern’s schedule.

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, 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.