Europe & Central Asia Division Intern

Application Deadline: 14 December 2023

Internship Description: The Europe and Central Asia (“ECA”) Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW) is currently seeking a student to intern in the Berlin office. Ideally the candidate should be available to intern full-time 35 hours per week for three months beginning in mid to late January 2024.

Responsibilities:

The internship will focus on human rights abuses in the ECA region, particularly in the former Soviet Union, 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 division’s researchers. The internship will primarily focus on conducting background desk research; drafting summaries and protocols; and participating in meetings in the German foreign ministry, parliament, and elsewhere.

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 school and through social commitment and apply them in a professional setting.

Qualifications: The intern must be an enrolled student for the duration of the internship term and the internship must be a required part of the intern’s academic program. Students with relevant coursework focusing on the Western Balkans, the EU, the former Soviet Union, human rights, and international law are strongly encouraged to apply. Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in English and German is essential. Strong writing and research skills with previous experience in the field of human rights or in countries of the region is highly 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 for the duration of the internship.

Compensation: 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 intern’s schedules. 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 [email protected]. 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.