The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is an independent, non-profit organization with offices in Geneva, New York and Abidjan. We support and act in solidarity with human rights defenders in their work for freedom, dignity, equality, justice and other fundamental values at the international, regional and national levels. Our approach to supporting human rights work is based on three core pillars: (1) Supporting human rights defenders; (2) Promoting rights and accountability; and (3) Strengthening human rights laws and systems.
The fellowship would provide hands-on experience working for an international non-governmental organization (NGO) as well as the opportunity to contribute to our work supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, building and leading human rights coalitions, and responding to significant and systemic human rights concerns.
The work of human rights defenders is essential to promote and protect human rights and the rule of law. Our theory of change is founded on a proven formula, supported by almost 40 years of research, frontline experience and a track record of impact: that the engagement of human rights defenders- the essential change agents, with international and regional human rights laws and systems- the powerful levers, create national level change.
We prioritize several groups of human rights defenders for particular attention, namely women human rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ defenders, those working on corporate accountability, defenders working in restrictive environments, defenders working against racism, and defenders working on migrant and refugee rights. We also work to prevent and address reprisals against those engaging in the regional and international human rights systems.
The Fellow would be part of the Geneva and/or New York teams and have the opportunity to collaborate with ISHR staff in all locations including the Abidjan office. This fellowship is expected to be a year-long full-time (37.5 hours per week) in-person position. The Fellow would be supervised by staff attorneys, as well supported by the Fellowships Coordinators in both offices providing mentorship support to Fellows during their fellowship.
The Fellow will work closely with staff attorneys, contributing to our work supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, building and leading human rights coalitions, and responding to significant and systemic situations of concern.
In a year’s work with ISHR, the Fellow will gain experience monitoring a number of deliberations and negotiations at the United Nations and advocating in those fora in line with ISHR’s mandate and priorities. Working in a small team, the Fellow will have the opportunity to learn at close hand what it means to work for an international human rights advocacy organization. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to collaborate with ISHR staff in all locations and gain hands-on experience on the application of international human rights law in a multilateral human rights system, including advocacy on normative and policy advances for the protection of human rights defenders.
The Fellow will be involved in a number of research and advocacy projects relating to our areas of work. These could include, for example, the production of NGO reports to international and regional human rights mechanisms, drafting amicus briefs to treaty bodies or international, regional or national courts, drafting communications to human rights experts, or designing and carrying out advocacy campaigns at the General Assembly, the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, the Human Rights Council as well as contributing to our work on capacity development and enhancing legislative protection of defenders.
As part of this work, we would involve him in meetings with external stakeholders—including diplomats, UN officials, NGOs—as well as internal strategy meetings, with the goal that, through this experience at ISHR, the Fellow would acquire a strong understanding of how different stakeholders engage and seek to influence key actors in the international human rights system.
Key tasks may include:
- Supporting legal counsel in preparing submissions to national, regional and international human rights mechanisms and courts;
- Representing ISHR at meetings at UN headquarters and in coalitions with other human rights NGOs;
- Assisting with research in relation to submissions for international human rights mechanisms, including Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and the UN treaty bodies;
- Assisting with ISHR’s training and advocacy support to human rights defenders and
networks globally;
- Providing support to the key programme staff in the implementation of project activities,
across ISHR’s strategic programme areas;
- Reviewing and providing inputs to relevant ISHR reports, handbook for research, related to specific human rights issues and UN mechanisms;
- Researching and compiling texts, UN resolutions, laws or reports on specific human rights topics in order to supplement ISHR research and advocacy;
- Monitoring and reporting on UN and regional human rights meetings, including the UN Human Rights Council, Treaty Body sessions and Universal Periodic Review.
Fellow must be fully funded by a scholarship provided by a third party for the entire duration (12 months) of their fellowship.
The fellowship is expected to be a full-time (37.5 hours per week) position and to take place in person in Geneva and / or New York office as primary location. A dual location arrangement, with the fellowship split between New York and Geneva, may be considered if it serves both the Fellow's best interests and the organization's need.
The successful Fellow must:
• Be a graduate/student;
• Have a strong interest in human rights and social change;
• Have strong drafting and research skills;
• Be flexible and self-motivated;
• Be able to work as a member of an international and multicultural team and willing to participate in a variety of tasks, as required;
• Be detail-oriented and attentive to nuance, in particular in diplomatic environments;
• Be motivated, autonomous and a self-starter, and comfortable occasionally working with limited supervision;
• Have an excellent level of written and spoken English. Knowledge of official UN languages, especially Arabic, Chinese, French or Spanish is desirable;
• Interest or background, including activism in, corporate accountability, women’s rights,
and/or LGBTQIA+ rights.
Interested candidates should apply by sending a cover letter, a CV (no profile picture) and a writing sample to ISHR (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f7c41f33b9064ba0a0fc83c4d1755c47).
In their cover letter, candidates should demonstrate their commitment to human rights and social change.
Application deadline: to be determined. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please kindly note that due to the high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications will be handled in accordance with ISHR’s Privacy Policy (https://ishr.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Data-Privacy-Policy-26-August...).
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