Internship- Human Rights Programme

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. We promote democratic governance and work with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. The promotion and protection of human rights is an important objective of the IPU.

The IPU provides parliamentarians with information, knowledge and training to improve the human rights of the people they represent – especially women, children, persons with disabilities and minorities. We help parliaments implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council and UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies. We also ensure that States, through their parliaments, ratify or accede to international human rights conventions and adopt and implement relevant domestic laws. We also collect data on parliamentary human rights committees and empower and mobilise them to make human rights a priority for parliaments.

In this framework, the IPU enjoys long-standing cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in our common pursuit to promote synergies between UN human rights mechanisms and parliaments. We do so in the belief that parliaments can make a strong contribution to national implementation of the recommendations made by these UN human rights mechanisms. Following in the footsteps of our cooperation with the CEDAW Committee, the IPU is now engaging for this purpose with the UN Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review as well as some of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, namely the Human Rights Committee, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Committee on the rights of all Migrant Workers. Similar engagement with other Treaty Bodies may be foreseen to start in the near future.

Mission: Under the supervision of the Manager of the Human Rights Programme, the intern will undertake, in particular the following tasks:

• Attend and report on meetings in Geneva of the UN human rights mechanisms with whom the IPU has established – or foresees to establish – cooperation;
• Contribute to internal reflections on how to strengthen the engagement of the IPU and our Member Parliaments with these mechanisms and on how best to collect and disseminate information on good practices of engagement;
• Carry out research on reports and documents from UN human rights mechanisms as well as on the human rights situation of selected countries;
• Carry out research on the work of parliaments on children’s rights, and possibly other topics covered by the other UN human rights mechanisms;
• Draft correspondence to parliaments to share information on their involvement with UN human rights mechanisms or their participation in any events or activities organized by the Human Rights Programme;
• Help with the organization of virtual or in-person meetings and other activities of the Human Rights Programme involving partners and other organizations;
• Perform any other assignments related to the work of the Human Rights Programme as required.

Requirements:

• University degree in law, political science, international relations, or related fields. A graduate-level degree (with a specialization or component in human rights) is an asset;

• Experience in human rights-related research or work. Specific experience on UN human rights mechanisms is an asset;

• Knowledge of the functioning of national parliaments will be appreciated;

• Sound research, analytical and organisational skills;

• Ability to work and organize work independently;

• Fluency, both oral and written, in English. Working knowledge of French is a strong asset. Knowledge of other languages is an asset;

• Proficiency in computer skills (MS Office applications, Internet).

Period of internship and location

From 15 September 2025 to 15 July 2026, although a shorter period could be discussed. The internship will be based in Geneva.

Working hours

The internship will be full-time, corresponding to 37.5 hours a week.

Remuneration

The IPU will pay the intern a monthly allowance of CHF 1500.