The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the protocols thereto, which include the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Protocols. UNODC is mandated to promote global adherence to the Protocols and to assist Member States in their efforts to effectively implement them, providing technical cooperation in assessing and strengthening national responses on prevention, investigation and prosecution of the crimes, developing international cooperation, and respecting the rights of migrants and victims.
The internship positions are located in the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section of the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch, Division for Treaty Affairs, in Vienna. The Section is looking for several interns for its different teams, focusing among others on the delivery of technical cooperation, normative and policy work, knowledge development and innovation, and partnerships.
The Section works to advance the international agenda on countering trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants in all UN related inter-agency and inter-governmental processes and fora, and supports the activities relating to the provision of legislative assistance to UN Member States upon request. It further works to develop and disseminate knowledge on trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants through the publication of thematic and technical tools.
⚖️ Duties and Responsibilities
The interns will provide substantive, organizational and logistic support to the daily work of the Section, focusing on some of the following tasks depending on which sub-team they join:
🔍 Perform background research and analysis on country situations, trends, legal frameworks and concepts relating to human trafficking and migrant smuggling
🗂️ Assist in technical support to the planning, implementation and monitoring of regional and national technical assistance projects and activities
📚 Support the preparation of training material for technical assistance activities such as capacity-building workshops
⚖️ Assist in collecting and analyzing case-law, as well as managing information on relevant UNODC online platforms
💡 Assist in identifying areas for knowledge development and perform research on emerging and cross-cutting issues
🎪 Assist in the preparation and holding of intergovernmental meetings and other events such as the Working Groups on Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants, as well as thematic expert group meetings, briefings and discussions
✍️ Contribute to the drafting of official UNODC submissions or related guidance notes
🤝 Assist in strengthening the involvement of UNODC in inter-agency fora
📞 Assist in liaising with offices within the United Nations, other external organizations and Member States
📄 Assist in preparing briefing notes, statements, presentations and communication materials
📰 Compile weekly press clippings on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons
🌍 Carry out other tasks related to the implementation of the UNODC Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants
💛 A longer stay in the same country, living and working inside an inclusive community: ESC Volunteering in 🇦🇹 Austria 🤝 Life in an Inclusive Community 💛 → https://youthworkshub.org/20927
✅ Qualifications and Special Skills
🎓 Be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school programme, meaning a second university degree or equivalent or higher, or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme, meaning minimum bachelor's level or equivalent, with official written proof from the university supporting one of these possibilities attached to the Inspira application
📚 Have studies in criminology, law, political or social sciences, including psychology, international relations or a related field
🧠 Have sound analytical skills and good drafting ability, and computer skills especially MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
💻 Be computer literate in standard software applications
🇺🇳 Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter
🌍 Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to try to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
🗣️ Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship, and knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
⚖️ A placement supporting people through protection and asylum processes: Internship in the 🇺🇸 United States 🤝 Asylum Seeker Program Support at a Humanitarian Organisation ⚖️ → https://youthworkshub.org/20535
📋 The Details
📍 Work location: Vienna, Austria, in person or remotely
⏳ Expected duration: six months
🕐 Internships are unpaid and full-time, 40 hours over 5 days per week
🏢 Department or office: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
🗂️ Job family: Drug Control and Crime Prevention
📌 Category and level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1
🆔 Job opening ID: 281528
⚠️ Conditions of the UN Internship Programme
💶 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 or employment authorization
📬 Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted
📩 How to Apply
A completed online application, meaning a motivation statement, candidate profile and proof of enrolment or graduation, is required, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The motivation statement must include the degree programme you are currently studying, your graduation date, the IT skills and programmes you are proficient in, your top three areas of interest, why you are the best candidate for this specific internship, and your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme in general and this assignment in particular. In your online candidate profile, include all past work experiences, IT skills and three references, and do not forget to attach your proof of enrolment or graduation.
⏰ Deadline
04 August 2026.
🔗 Link
📝 Job opening and application: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/281528?language=en
