The position of Witness Support Intern is located in the Operational Support Section (OSS) of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM), located in Geneva, Switzerland. The OSS is responsible for ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of victims and witnesses is not adversely affected due to their cooperation with the Mechanism. The Witness Support Intern will work under the supervision of the Witness Support Officer, assisting with evaluation of current staff support and witness support services and exploring ways to introduce new service opportunities. Bringing on board a dedicated intern focused on psychosocial support to witnesses is essential for the IIIM, enhancing ongoing initiatives and contributing to the quality of psychosocial services provided to beneficiaries. The intern will also gain valuable hands-on experience in the field of clinical and forensic psychology.


Position Details

📍 Work location: the hiring office is in Geneva, Switzerland. This internship is designed to be conducted remotely, with the possibility of other work modalities (in-person or hybrid) to be discussed with the successful candidate

🗓️ Expected duration: maximum six months, with the specific start date and duration adjusted after discussion

💶 An IIIM internship is unpaid and full-time (40 hours per week). Regular working hours are 8:30 to 17:30, Monday through Friday

🏢 Department: Syria International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of the Witness Support Intern include, but are not limited to:

🔎 Conducting research on best practices of psychosocial support to witnesses

📘 Reviewing and updating the Cultural Expressions of Distress Guide

📗 Reviewing and updating the Facilitating with Care Guide

🌍 Supporting the translation of the psychosocial evaluation toolkit into Arabic language

📝 Drafting meeting minutes

At the end of the programme, the intern will prepare a paper on a topic associated with witness support, will update the Cultural Expressions of Distress Guide, and will translate the psychosocial evaluation toolkit into Arabic language.


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Qualifications and Skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent). Interested candidates must be pursuing or have pursued their degree in areas related to this job opening, such as Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or a related branch of psychology or other related field of study. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable, as is a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.


Languages

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

Additional Information

A complete online application is required, including two letters of recommendation, copies of university or law studies transcripts, a sample of the applicant's written work in English (preferably in a field relevant to the work of the IIIM and no longer than ten pages), and a cover letter setting out the motivation of the candidate and dates of availability. Interns must keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the internship. IIIM interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses they incur, and are required to secure adequate insurance coverage. For in-person internships, candidates of certain nationalities must obtain a visa authorizing their stay in Switzerland. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply. Please note that fulfilment of the responsibilities of this position may necessitate engagement with material and/or information that may be distressing.


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How to Apply

Deadline for applications: 20 August 2026. Please note that documents may only be in English, and that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Apply through the UN careers portal.

🔗 https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/281350?language=en