Internship: Human Rights Programme

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:  The intern will work in the Human Rights Programme of the Division of Programmes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.  In performing his/her duties, the intern will report to the Manager of the Human Rights Programme and work under the direct guidance of the Human Right Programme Officer working on UN-related activities.

Accountabilities:  Within delegated authority, the intern will be entrusted with the following:

Attending and  reporting on meetings in Geneva of the  UN Human Rights Council,  UN Committee on Civil and Political Rights, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

Assisting with carrying out a survey to collect data on the involvement of parliaments in the work of these mechanisms and with the analysis of such data; 

Assisting with the organization of IPU human rights events scheduled to take place during the internship.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

•   UN experts and staff

•   Representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations

•   Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff

•   Staff of the IPU Secretariat

Competencies:

Professionalism: good knowledge of the field of human rights in general, in particular the work of the UN human rights mechanism; some knowledge of  the role of parliaments in protecting and promoting human rights;

Communication: good drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written;   
Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills;  ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Qualifications:

Education: undergraduate tertiary level or post-graduate studies in Law or related subject.

Language: Oral and written proficiency in English and French, including the ability to drafting in at least one of these languages; knowledge of a third official UN language is an advantage.

Dates and conditions:

The internship would run from 4 November 2013 to 28 February 2014. The intern would receive a monthly stipend of CHF 1'000.

Those interested in the internship are requested to send their applications, comprising a resume and a cover letter, to postbox@mail.ipu.org by 23 August 2013.