Human Rights Intern – Middle East and North Africa

About the role

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking a motivated intern to support its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Section. The role involves assisting in the systematic collection, analysis, and reporting on human‑rights situations across the region.

Key responsibilities

• Research and draft individual cases of alleged human‑rights violations.
• Support Desk Officers in responding to information requests and preparing country profiles, briefing packages, and regular updates.
• Assist in drafting thematic and country‑specific documents, taking meeting minutes, and attending side‑events, Human Rights Council sessions, Treaty Body reviews, and Universal Periodic Reviews.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, documents, and other written materials as needed.

Required profile

• Enrolled in or completed a graduate programme, or in the final year of a bachelor’s degree (law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related fields).
• Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of French is required, Arabic is an advantage.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong commitment to human‑rights principles.

Required skills

What we offer

• Full‑time internship (remote or in‑person) for an initial three months, with possible extension up to six months.
• Opportunity to gain practical experience in international human‑rights work within the United Nations system.