The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is offering an internship focused on serious human rights violations ("Pasantía con enfoque en violaciones graves a los derechos humanos") in Mexico City, Mexico. The intern will assist the Security and Justice Unit from 16 December 2026 to 15 June 2027, and fluent Spanish is required. Applications close on 18 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we translated and reviewed the full vacancy and set out every detail below.
Internship Facts
🏛️ Office: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
🆔 Job Opening ID: 287719
🏷️ Category and level: I-1
👤 Recruitment type: Intern
📍 Duty station: Mexico City, Mexico
🗓️ Expected duration: 16 December 2026 to 15 June 2027
🗣️ Required language: Fluent Spanish (spoken and written)
⏰ Deadline: 18 November 2026
Where You Will Work: The Security and Justice Unit
The internship is based with the UN Human Rights Office in Mexico (ONU-DH) and focuses on serious human rights violations. The intern's main role is to assist the Security and Justice Unit, supporting its work across planning, research and documentation.
Duties and Responsibilities
🤝 Assist the Security and Justice Unit
📅 Help plan agendas, meetings or events related to the Unit's topics
🔍 Support research on various topics related to the Unit, including transparency requests and media monitoring
📝 Support the drafting of notes, internal communications, presentations and other documents related to the Unit's thematic areas
🧩 Support other tasks necessary to fulfil the objectives of ONU-DH
Academic Profile Required
You can apply if you meet one of these two conditions:
🎓 You are a master's student in a social sciences field (Law, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science or other related fields), or you have recently graduated from such a programme
📚 You are a student in, or have completed, the final year of a bachelor's degree in a social sciences field (Law, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science or other related fields)
Fields of Study That Fit the Role
⚖️ Law
👥 Sociology
🌐 International Relations
🏛️ Political Science
📖 Other related social sciences fields
Language Requirements
English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship:
🇪🇸 Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written) is required
🇬🇧 Knowledge of English is desirable
➕ Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage
The official languages of the UN Secretariat are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, English and Russian.
Is the Internship Paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Visas and Work Authorisation
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship takes place may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorisation. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
Timeline at a Glance
⏰ Applications close: 18 November 2026
🚀 Internship start: 16 December 2026
🏁 Internship end: 15 June 2027
Explore more UN and international placements in the Internship section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OHCHR internship on serious human rights violations in Mexico City?
It is a UN Human Rights internship (Job Opening ID 287719) in Mexico City in which the intern assists the Security and Justice Unit with event planning, research, transparency requests, media monitoring and document drafting.
How long does the internship last?
The expected duration is from 16 December 2026 to 15 June 2027.
Who can apply?
Master's students or recent graduates in a social sciences field such as Law, Sociology, International Relations or Political Science, as well as students in, or graduates of, the final year of a bachelor's degree in these fields.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Yes. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is required. Knowledge of English is desirable, and another official UN language is an advantage.
Is the OHCHR internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and travel, visa, accommodation and living costs are covered by the interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Do I need a visa?
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Mexico may need an appropriate visa and work/employment authorisation, and successful candidates should discuss visa requirements before accepting the offer.
Deadline
⏳ 18 November 2026
Link
Apply online: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/287719?language=en
