Work Location

The Hague, The Netherlands

Expected duration

3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting and Reporting: The Office the Registrar of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”) invites applicants for a legal internship starting in March/April 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. The Mechanism is mandated to perform a number of essential functions previously carried out by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (“ICTR”) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”). In carrying out these essential functions, the Mechanism maintains the legacies of these two pioneering ad hoc international criminal courts and strives to reflect best practices in the field of international criminal justice. The Mechanism has two branches: one located in The Hague, The Netherlands, and another in Arusha, Tanzania. The advertised position is located in the Office of the Registrar, Registry, Hague Branch, and under the direct supervision of the Internship Coordinator, a legal officer within the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar provides legal and policy support to the Registrar in relation to the various functions at both branches of the Mechanism. The Office of the Registrar further supports and liaises with all Sections and Units of the Registry. While the interns will mainly work in the Office of the Registrar, they may also provide support to the following Registry Sections and Units: the Judicial Records Unit (‘’JRU”), and the Witness Support and Protection Unit, (“WISP”). Responsibilities: Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with the legal officers in the Office of the Registrar. As indicated above, interns may also be requested to undertake JRU and WISP assignments where required and appropriate. More specifically interns may assist with a broad range of interesting tasks or projects, including: preparing summaries of important filings, researching and preparing draft submissions, memoranda, reports, and correspondence with internal and external authorities as well as providing support to the legal officers. Interns may also perform other duties as assigned by the Internship Coordinator.

Qualifications/special skills

Candidates must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree (Master Degree) or equivalent, or higher). No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. Previous legal experience is desirable. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Additional Information

Special Notice Please note internships are unpaid. Mechanism interns are responsible for all internship related expenses that they incur. Interns must therefore be able to cover their costs of travel, insurance, accommodation, as well as living expenses during the internship period. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship. Therefore, upon award of an internship, interns are responsible for securing adequate insurance coverage and are required to sign and return a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of these conditions of service. ALL of the documents listed below are required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Due to the number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please note that documents may only be in English or French. Please address these documentation, specifying the number of the Job Opening to this email: [email protected] 1. A cover letter, including an available start and end date for the internship; 2. Two letters of recommendation preferably from academic or professional referees; 3. Copies of university/law studies transcripts, or enrolment (including courses taken and grades received); and 4. A writing sample preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Mechanism and not longer than ten pages. Interns must keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers based on such information except with the explicit written authorization of the Chief of Human Resources of the Mechanism. Interns are bound by the same duties and obligations as staff members, and the information to which an intern has access in the course of the internship must not be divulged to external parties. Each prospective intern must sign the Acceptance and Undertaking Form to indicate their understanding and acceptance of this stipulation. There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations or the Mechanism upon completion of the internship. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

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.