Work Location

Geneva Switzerland

Expected duration

The anticipated start date is 31 August 2026. The internship duration is generally between three (3) and six (6) months, with six (6) months being encouraged to ensure a more comprehensive experience. Applicants should clearly indicate their preferred internship duration.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern is to report to the Meetings and Documents Unit (MDU) of the Office of the Director (OoD) for the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division (CTMD) of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. MDU contributes to the mandate of the High Commissioner by facilitating the production, processing and dissemination of information on the promotion and protection of human rights in the form of official documents and publications. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of MDU staff member(s). The intern will be responsible to:

Track and process Human Rights Council documentation before and during the session
Support the programming and processing of OHCHR documentation along with monitoring status throughout the entire pipeline
Provide inputs and content for internal website, resources pages, and other information products Daily responsibilities will vary and depend on the individual's background, including but not limited to:
Compile and update daily status reports and spreadsheets on the readiness of documentation
Coordinate and correspond daily with both upstream OHCHR staff and downstream language service providers
Research internal and publicly available information to compile future documentation requirements for OHCHR mechanisms
Conducting research and analysis on assigned topics
Drafting correspondence and communication materials
Assisting in the preparation of reports, briefs, and background documents for reporting to MDU management
Performing other duties as assigned

Qualifications/special skills

The United Nations Internship Programme is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them to gain experience in the work of the Organization. To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

At the time of application, applicants to the programme must meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
Have a demonstrated strong interest in human rights issues and a commitment to the values of the United Nations
Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs
Be computer literate in standard software applications, especially in Microsoft 365 Products.
Manage your time and priorities to ensure timely completion of assigned tasks, which are often time-sensitive. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Additional Information

No job description available

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.

Intern - Administration