Youth Works Hub has reviewed 8 policy, human rights and civil society internships at the United Nations, IOM and Human Rights Watch in New York, Geneva, Ankara and Stockholm, across four countries. The two UN internships in New York close first, on 21 October 2026, five calls in Geneva, Ankara and New York close on 22 October 2026, and the Human Rights Watch internship in Stockholm closes on 25 October 2026. Our guide on how we verify opportunities explains how we check calls like these.
Each call has its own angle:
πΊπΈ United States: UN DESA's Strategic Planning and Communications Services looks for interns to support research on assigned topics and global sustainable development trends and the preparation of briefs, speeches and senior-level meetings in New York.
πΊπΈ United States: the United Nations Youth Office needs a Policy Intern for its UN System Coordination and Accountability section, contributing to the Youth2030 strategy and the UN Youth Townhall.
π¨π Switzerland: OHCHR's Anti-Racial Discrimination Section in Geneva works on incitement to hatred and hate speech, religious intolerance, multiple discrimination and systemic racism.
πΉπ· TΓΌrkiye: IOM's Country Office in Ankara looks for a Reintegration Intern for application intakes, referrals, counselling appointments and beneficiary data.
π¨π Switzerland: the United Nations Office at Geneva offers a 6-month internship in its NGO Liaison Unit, following NGO participation at UN meetings, in particular the sessions of the Human Rights Council.
πΊπΈ United States: the UN Department of Global Communications offers three internships in its Civil Society and Academic Impact Section in New York.
π¨π Switzerland: UNODET's liaison office in Geneva offers a project-based internship with two tracks, event planning and coordination or stakeholder engagement and policy coordination.
πΈπͺ Sweden: Human Rights Watch in Stockholm looks for an intern for its Advocacy and Development & Outreach departments, for 20 weeks from mid-January 2027.
The batch suits final-year bachelor's students, graduate students and recent graduates who want to work on policy, human rights, civil society and migration, while the Human Rights Watch internship in Stockholm takes only students who stay enrolled for the whole placement. Preferred fields of study differ by call: law, political science, international relations and social sciences at OHCHR, eleven fields from international relations and law to internet governance and sociology at UNODET, and coursework in communications, media, political science, law or human rights at Human Rights Watch, which adds that it is open to other profiles. Languages also shape who can apply: UNOG requires English and French, IOM in Ankara requires English and Turkish, and Human Rights Watch lists Swedish and English. If this would be your first long stay abroad, our guide to culture shock and homesickness abroad helps you prepare.
According to Youth Works Hub's review, seven of the eight calls are unpaid and only the IOM internship in Ankara grants a small monthly stipend, whose amount the posting does not state. The UN job openings state that interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations and that costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions, while Human Rights Watch lists compensation for its Stockholm internship as unpaid. IOM covers its intern against occupational accidents and illnesses under its Compensation Plan, and interns there are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accidents or illnesses.
π Deadlines: 21 Oct (2) Β· 22 Oct (5) Β· 25 Oct (1) π Countries: π¨π Switzerland (3) Β· πΊπΈ United States (3) Β· πΈπͺ Sweden Β· πΉπ· TΓΌrkiye
In This Batch
- π 21 Oct Β· πΊπΈ United States Β· Internship
- π 21 Oct Β· πΊπΈ United States Β· Internship
- π 22 Oct Β· π¨π Switzerland Β· Internship
- π 22 Oct Β· πΉπ· TΓΌrkiye Β· Internship
- π 22 Oct Β· π¨π Switzerland Β· Internship
- π 22 Oct Β· πΊπΈ United States Β· Internship
- π 22 Oct Β· π¨π Switzerland Β· Internship
- π 25 Oct Β· πΈπͺ Sweden Β· Internship
What's in this batch:
8 Internships Β· 4 Countries
πΌ Internships & Traineeships
1. πΊπΈ Strategic Planning Intern π§ UN DESA Internship in New York, United States π
π Deadline: 21 October 2026
π New York, United States, flexible work location (hybrid, all remote or in-person) Β· π₯ Graduate students, final-year bachelor's students or graduates Β· β³ 2 to 6 months, desired start 2 November 2026 or sooner Β· πΆ Unpaid
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is looking for interns to support its Strategic Planning and Communications Services (SPCS) in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, with New York as the duty station. Duties may include tracking, researching and analyzing information on assigned topics, helping monitor and analyze global trends on sustainable development, supporting the preparation of senior-level management meetings, conferences and retreats, assisting with speeches and talking points, supporting background notes, summary briefs, option papers and analytical reports, and supporting meetings, events, talks and visits as well as ad hoc projects relating to the strategic planning efforts of SPCS.
It is open to applicants who are enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme, or the final academic year of a first university degree, with a field of study closely related to the internship; professional work experience is not required. Fluency in spoken and written English is required and knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage, while experience, interests and skills in areas such as international affairs, gender equality and sustainable development, strategy or management consulting, policy work, executive support, analytics and data visualization and presentation design are desirable. The internship is unpaid and full-time, with interns working five days per week, and costs for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
π All opportunities in United States β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2. πΊπΈ Policy Intern π United Nations Youth Office Internship in New York, United States π
π Deadline: 21 October 2026
π New York, United States, in person or remote Β· π₯ Final-year bachelor's students, graduate students or graduates Β· β³ 3 months, four to five days a week, full time or part time Β· πΆ Unpaid
The United Nations Youth Office is looking for a Policy Intern for its UN System Coordination and Accountability section at United Nations Headquarters in New York, with a desired start in October/November 2026. The intern contributes to the work on Youth2030, the UN's system-wide strategy on youth, and to the UN Youth Townhall event, assisting with research on youth policies, programmes and youth-led ideas, data collection, analysis and dissemination, mapping and collating tools and resources for a toolkit, identifying and drafting case studies and promising practices, supporting special events, conferences, workshops and High-Level events, and preparing briefs, talking points and speeches.
It is open to students in the final year of a first university degree, Master's or Ph.D. students and graduates of those programmes, with a field of study related to the internship and no professional work experience required. Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Excel, and fluency in English are required, experience in youth engagement or youth-related policy-programming is an asset and experience in sustainable development, human rights, peace and security or humanitarian action is desirable. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, candidates are asked in the application whether they can cover travel, visa, accommodation, health insurance and other living expenses, and children or siblings of a staff member are not eligible to apply.
3. π¨π Intern ποΈ Anti-Racial Discrimination Section (OHCHR) Internship in Geneva, Switzerland βοΈ
π Deadline: 22 October 2026
π Geneva, Switzerland, in Geneva and/or remote Β· π₯ Graduate students, final-year bachelor's students or graduates, preferably in law, political science, international relations or social sciences Β· β³ Three to six months, full time Β· πΆ Unpaid
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is looking for an intern for its Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, located in the Equality and Non-discrimination Branch in Geneva. The section supports States, national human rights institutions, civil society and the United Nations system on implementing the UN's human rights standards and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, undertakes capacity-building and the promotion, protection, prevention and monitoring of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, provides thematic advice and research on contemporary issues such as incitement to hatred and hate speech, religious intolerance, multiple discrimination and systemic racism, and gives secretariat support to the mandates of six mechanisms in this field.
It is open to applicants who are enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme, or who are enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first-level university degree, with law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field as the preferred area of study; professional work experience is not required. Fluency in spoken and written English is required and another United Nations official language is an asset, alongside a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and the demonstrated ability to interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. The engagement is unpaid and full-time, the preferred start is between the first and second quarter of 2027, and travel, visa, accommodation and living costs are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
π All opportunities in Switzerland β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
4. πΉπ· Reintegration Intern π€ IOM Internship in Ankara, TΓΌrkiye π (Paid)
π Deadline: 22 October 2026
π Ankara, TΓΌrkiye Β· π₯ Aged 20 to 36, final-year bachelor's students or graduates of the last 12 months, with less than two years of relevant working experience Β· β³ Internship contract of 2 to 6 months, initial contract 3 months Β· πΆ Small monthly stipend, amount not stated
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for an Intern (Reintegration) in its Country Office in Ankara, TΓΌrkiye. The intern supports the implementation and monitoring of day-to-day activities and the administrative and financial processes of the Reintegration project(s), assists in organizing workshops, meetings and conferences, coordinates service delivery with the finance and procurement units, provides translation and interpretation to support the counsellors, helps coordinate in-person Reintegration application intakes and external referrals, keeps the counselling appointment schedule up to date, completes forms and enters data into MΔ°MOSA, compiles and presents project information, and supports the evaluation of the effectiveness of assistance provided to beneficiaries in TΓΌrkiye.
Interns must be between 20 and 36 years old, should have less than two years of relevant working experience and are either enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree or graduated in the last 12 months, with fluency in English and Turkish required and specifically evaluated during the selection process. Depending on experience and location, interns are granted a small monthly stipend to help offset costs, and the posting does not state the amount, while interns who already benefit from an internship allowance or scholarship that includes financial remuneration or course credits are not eligible for it. IOM covers interns against occupational accidents and illnesses under its Compensation Plan, and interns are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accidents or illnesses, with written proof required before starting. Applications must be submitted before 22 October 2026, 11:55 PM, and no late applications will be accepted.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
π All opportunities in TΓΌrkiye β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
5. π¨π NGO Liaison Unit Intern π€ United Nations Office at Geneva Internship in Geneva, Switzerland π
π Deadline: 22 October 2026
π Geneva, Switzerland Β· π₯ Graduate students, final-year bachelor's students or graduates, computer literate in standard software applications Β· β³ 6 months from 12 January 2027, full time, five days a week Β· πΆ Unpaid
The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is offering a 6-month internship in its NGO Liaison Unit, part of the Political Affairs and Partnerships Section in the Office of the Director-General. The unit maintains liaison with non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and facilitates their engagement with the United Nations in Geneva. The intern researches and drafts NGO profiles and background for meetings, takes notes at NGO meetings held at the Palais des Nations and during side events, follows NGO participation at UN meetings in Geneva, in particular the sessions of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, prepares summaries of public meetings, supports the monthly newsletter to NGOs, drafts guidelines, flyers and website updates, supports talking points and speeches for the Director-General or the Chief of the Unit, and drafts correspondence and annual report articles.
It is open to applicants who are enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme or the final academic year of a first university degree, who are computer literate in standard software applications and can successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. Fluency in English and in French, both oral and written, is required for the Internship Programme. All UNOG internships are full-time and unpaid, interns work five days per week, and costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
6. πΊπΈ Public Information Intern π° United Nations Department of Global Communications Civil Society Internship in New York, United States π€
π Deadline: 22 October 2026
π New York, United States, in person and adjustable at the request of the successful candidate Β· π₯ Final-year bachelor's students, graduate students or graduates Β· β³ 6 months, full time, start October/November 2026 Β· πΆ Unpaid
The United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) is looking for Public Information Interns for its Civil Society and Academic Impact Section in the Outreach Division, with New York as the duty station. Three internships are available, each full-time for a period of six months. The intern conducts research for the CSO Association Project, including the compilation and review of application materials, assists in preparing the Civil Society newsletter by researching UN news stories and compiling submissions from civil society organizations, contributes to the NGLS Annual Report, supports the participation process for UN high-level events by reviewing registration submissions, tracking participant data and compiling CSO interventions and speaking requests, conducts preliminary reviews of civil society applications for the Special Accreditation project, and supports the creation of social media graphics and other visual materials.
It is open to students in the final year of a first university degree, Master's or Ph.D. students and graduates of those programmes, with a field of study closely related to the internship and no professional work experience required. Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Teams, is listed, the ability to draft emails and publications or knowledge of social media is desirable, and fluency in spoken and written English is required. The positions are unpaid, and persons who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or on another non-immigrant status such as F1 or J1 will be required to obtain a G4 visa and approved employment authorization.
7. π¨π Programme Management Intern (Event Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement) π UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UNODET) Internship in Geneva, Switzerland π§
π Deadline: 22 October 2026
π Geneva, Switzerland, in person or remote Β· π₯ Graduate students, final-year university students or graduates, preferably in international relations, law, economics, technology governance, communications or sociology Β· β³ 3 to 6 months, desired start November 2026, full time or part time Β· πΆ Unpaid
The United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UNODET) is offering a project-based internship in Programme Management at its liaison office in Geneva, and the selected intern contributes to one of two tracks. Track 1, Event Planning and Coordination, supports the planning, coordination and delivery of UN high-level events, including the second edition of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and related preparatory meetings, consultations, workshops and side events, with event logistics, participant management, invitations and registration, background notes, agendas, speaking points and session summaries. Track 2, Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Coordination, supports the implementation of the Global Digital Compact by engaging stakeholders across sectors, assisting with consultations and briefings with UN entities, attending UN meetings and preparing notes and draft summary reports, monitoring developments in the Human Rights Council, UNCTAD conferences and Geneva-based processes, and curating content for the UN Digital Cooperation Portal.
It is open to applicants who are enrolled in a graduate school programme, are enrolled in the final academic year of a university degree programme or have graduated with a university degree, with studies preferably in international relations, political affairs, law, economics, public or business administration, technology governance, data governance, internet governance, communications, media studies or sociology. Familiarity with and interest in technological governance, excellent organizational and project coordination skills and strong interpersonal and communication skills are desired, experience supporting the organization of meetings, events or multi-stakeholder processes is desirable, and fluency in English is required. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and you have to indicate the track you are interested in in your motivation statement.
8. πΈπͺ Advocacy and Development & Outreach Intern π£ Human Rights Watch Internship in Stockholm, Sweden βοΈ
π Deadline: 25 October 2026
π Norrsken House, central Stockholm, Sweden Β· π₯ Enrolled university students, coursework in communications, media, political science, law or human rights preferred Β· β³ 20 weeks from mid-January 2027, full time, 35 hours per week Β· πΆ Unpaid
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is looking for an intern for its Stockholm office at Norrsken House, assisting mainly the Advocacy Department but also the Development & Outreach Department. The call lists six main tasks and states that they are not limited to that list: monitoring global developments and assisting in preparing materials to support HRW's advocacy work, contributing to planning, organizing and evaluating events, participating in briefings with decision-makers and other key stakeholders, supporting the fundraising team by researching potential sources of income such as foundations and corporate partners, assisting in spreading HRW's research and recommendations through targeted communications for decision-makers and the general public, and developing content for HRW Sweden's social media, newsletters and website. Specific tasks may vary based on the interest and abilities of the selected intern.
Interns in Sweden must be enrolled students for the duration of their internship term, which here covers the full 20 weeks from mid-January 2027. Coursework in a relevant area such as communications, media, political science, law or human rights is preferred, and HRW writes that it is open to other profiles and encourages candidates to apply even if they do not fit the suggested background. The ideal candidate enjoys writing and has a good ability to express themselves in written and oral communication in both Swedish and English, with a demonstrated interest in human rights, communication, social media and/or fundraising, while good knowledge of MS Word and Excel is described as highly valuable. The internship is unpaid and full-time at 35 hours per week, and applications consist of a CV and a letter of interest submitted through HRW's online job portal, in English or Swedish.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
π All opportunities in Sweden β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these internships paid?
Seven of the eight placements are unpaid, and the IOM internship in Ankara grants a small monthly stipend whose amount the posting does not state. The UN job openings state that interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations and that costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions, and Human Rights Watch lists compensation for its Stockholm placement as unpaid. The UN and IOM calls also state that no fee is charged at any stage of the recruitment process, whether for application, interview, processing or training. Our guide on how paid internships abroad and funded traineeships work explains the main routes.
Who can apply for these internships?
The United Nations and IOM calls are open to final-year bachelor's students, graduate students and graduates, while Human Rights Watch asks for enrolled student status throughout the placement. UN DESA, the UN Youth Office, OHCHR, UNOG, UNODET and the Department of Global Communications ask for enrolment in, or completion of, a graduate programme or the final academic year of a first university degree. UN DESA and the Department of Global Communications ask for a field of study closely related to the internship and the UN Youth Office for a related field, and none of the three asks for professional work experience. OHCHR prefers law, political science, international relations or social sciences, and UNODET lists eleven preferred fields from international relations to sociology. IOM asks for applicants aged 20 to 36 with less than two years of relevant working experience who are in the final year of a bachelor's degree or graduated in the last 12 months. The eight placements sit in four countries, the United States, Switzerland, TΓΌrkiye and Sweden, and each listing page sets out the eligible countries. Our guide to preparing your Europass CV helps you put the documents together.
The eight placements fall into three groups: policy and strategy support at UN DESA, the UN Youth Office and UNODET, human rights and civil society liaison at OHCHR, UNOG and the Department of Global Communications, and country-level work at IOM in Ankara and Human Rights Watch in Stockholm. Moving to New York, Geneva, Ankara or Stockholm for several months is a big step, and our guide to mental health and wellbeing abroad is worth reading before you go.
Each listing on Youth Works Hub links to its own page and apply link. Pick the placement that matches your studies and your languages, and apply through its page.
