The Children’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a currently enrolled student to intern in the Los Angeles office for the fall 2018 semester. Ideally, the candidate will be available for a minimum of 15 hours per week for 4 months beginning in September 2018. The internship may have flexible hours within the 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekday office hours. The intern will gain knowledge of children’s rights, HRW’s research methodology, community organizing, information tracking, and the legislative process in California. This internship is best suited for those individuals interested in gaining experience within a large, well-organized, international non-profit organization.
Internships are unpaid. Academic credit can often be arranged as Human Rights Watch internships often offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by the Human Rights Watch staff, interaction with community activists and opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, and special events relating to human rights. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements
- The intern will learn about the efforts to reform the way youth are treated in California’s criminal justice system.
- The intern will primarily focus on: conducting desk research, corresponding with prisoners, drafting and editing documents, and contributing to projects that monitor and evaluate the current laws that apply to youth in California..
- Applicants should be well-organized, self-motivated, and reliable with strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
- A strong demonstrated interest in criminal justice, children’s rights, or human rights, is highly preferred.
- Experience with community organizing, conducting desk research, web design, social media and online communications tools is highly desirable.
- Relevant coursework in political science, public policy, criminal justice, law, sociology, or anthropology is a plus.
- Strong computer skills (i.e., MS Word, MS Excel, internet applications) are required.
- Applicants should be able to provide their own transportation to and from the office.