Civic Space Intern

About the role

The Civic Space Intern will support the Civic Space Unit within the Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space (RACS) Branch of OHCHR. This 6‑month internship in Geneva offers hands‑on experience in protecting human‑rights defenders and monitoring civic space trends.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in mapping protection practices for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and contribute to pilot projects and protection hubs.
• Support strategic field engagement by helping convene actors, develop joint strategies, and respond to urgent threats to civic space.
• Help develop and apply a monitoring framework to track civic space trends and HRD situations, including SDG‑16 indicators.
• Contribute to mainstreaming civic space within the UN system by mapping policies, sharing best practices, and supporting UN leadership.
• Support outreach activities that raise public visibility of HRDs and create pathways for business support.

Required profile

• University degree or advanced studies in human rights, law, political science, international relations or a related field.
• Strong interest in civic space, human‑rights protection, and UN mechanisms.
• Excellent analytical, research and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment.
• Motivation to contribute to the protection of human‑rights defenders.

Required skills