The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is accepting applications for a Human Rights Intern in its Regional Liaison Team in Geneva. The internship lasts 6 months and requires fluency in English and Spanish. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy and set out the duties, requirements and costs below. More roles like this are listed under internship opportunities.
What the Intern Does at OHCHR
The intern supports OHCHR in fulfilling its mission: to work for the protection of all human rights for all people, to help empower people to realise their rights, and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.
Daily responsibilities of human rights interns in the Regional Liaison Team depend on the individual's background and duties. They may include, but are not limited to:
📋 Compiling information on human rights
🔍 Analysing key issues
🗂️ Collecting information and documents on specific human rights topics
📝 Taking notes in UN conferences and meetings
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Academic Eligibility
To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, applicants must at the time of submission:
🎓 Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (Bachelor's degree or equivalent), or
📘 Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (Master's degree or equivalent, or higher), or
🏅 Have completed one of the above degrees
The preferred areas of study are law, international relations, public administration, political science, social sciences or a related field. If selected, you must start the internship on the date indicated on your acceptance letter.
Language Requirements: English and Spanish
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Who Pays for What
This internship is unpaid. 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 authorisation, so successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. For a wider view of how this route compares with other pathways into the UN, see our guide to the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme.
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or training) and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OHCHR Human Rights internship in Geneva paid?
No. The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Travel, visa, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.
How long does the internship last?
The internship lasts 6 months in Geneva, Switzerland.
Which languages are required?
Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
What kind of work will I do?
You may compile information on human rights, analyse key issues, collect information and documents on specific human rights topics, and take notes in UN conferences and meetings, depending on your background and duties.
Which degree do I need?
You must be in the final year of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, be enrolled in a Master's degree or higher, or have completed one of these degrees. Law, international relations, public administration, political science and social sciences are preferred.
Can I apply from outside Switzerland?
Yes. The internship is open to applicants of all nationalities. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Switzerland, you may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorisation before starting.
Deadline
⏳ 23 November 2026
Links
🔗 Job opening: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/287969?language=en
📝 Application (Apply): https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Action=A&UNAction=Apply&JobOpeningId=287969&languageCd=ENG
