Intern at the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is looking for dedicated, capable interns to assist with various projects. 

THE PLACEMENT

As a human rights intern you will be asked to:

· Support research staff by researching and drafting long reports, press releases, and blog entries on human rights developments in Iran

· Help prepare petitions for the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and other UN special procedures on behalf of human rights defenders and political activists detained in Iran

· Assist with memos on international and foreign law

· Copy edit English

· Translate documents from Persian to English ( if bi-lingual)

All human right interns will receive specific medium-term projects, but will also be asked to assist with smaller tasks that arise in the course of the Campaign’s work. A member of our research staff will supervise your work and will be available to provide guidance and answer any questions.

(Law school students will be considered Legal Interns and their work will have a larger legal component)

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for people with a proven interest in human rights. Potential interns should have a background in law, human rights, Iran studies or other related fields. Candidates should also have:

· Solid understanding of Iranian affairs or international and human rights law

· Strong writing skills, with the ability to write with a quick turnaround and under tight deadlines when necessary

· Previous NGO experience

· Fluency in Persian (preferred but not required)

· Advanced degree in law or relevant field, or current law or graduate student (preferred but not required)

Internships coincide with the academic term. We require a full semester. Applicants currently not in school will be accepted on a rolling basis and must put in a minimum eight-weeks commitment for 12-40 hours per week. Positions are based in our downtown Brooklyn office, however interns living outside New York City may work remotely.

Internships are unpaid, but may be performed for academic credit per your school’s approval.

THE CAMPAIGN

The mission of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is to gather support for Iranian human rights activists and defenders who are advocating for their civil, political, social, and economic rights within the framework of international treaties and standards that define Iran’s obligations.

The Campaign is founded on these principles: that human rights in Iran, and in every country, are a matter of legitimate international concern and essential to establishing international peace and security; that human rights in Iran can only be implemented with the assistance of civil society, whose role must be protected and sustained; that human rights compliance in Iran should be approached from a non-partisan perspective, and detached from political objectives; and that solidarity with any and all peoples prevented from enjoying their human rights is a moral imperative of our time.

In order to encourage and assist state authorities to respect and abide by international standards and law, the Campaign will document Iran’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, and publicize this and other relevant information to help provide a basis for accurate evaluations and constructive recommendations for improvements.

The Campaign will inform civil society actors and media from around the world on the situation of human rights in Iran, urging them to support their Iranian colleagues. The Campaign will advocate in international institutions, promoting recommendations put forward by human rights and social movements in Iran, and providing a platform for their views. The Campaign will reach out across the world to build a network devoted to its principles, and ready to contribute to the realization of its goals.

Please send a resume, cover letter and two references to mani@iranhumanrights.org.

The cover letter should indicate your preferred start dates and weekly number of hours. References should be someone that can attest to your qualifications for the internship. Some applicants might also be ask to send a writing sample.