The Arms Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking an intern in summer 2019 in the Washington, D.C. office. Ideally, the candidate will be available beginning in early to mid-May 2019 through July 2019 (dates and hours are flexible).
Created in 1992, Human Rights Watch’s Arms Division works on weapons of humanitarian concern and to promote compliance by all with international humanitarian law. Currently, the Arms Division works to ensure implementation of humanitarian disarmament instruments like the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions. It coordinates the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a global coalition working to preemptively ban lethal autonomous weapons systems. On behalf of Human Rights Watch, the division is centrally involved in the International Network on Explosive Weapons, which seeks to address the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in towns and cities of Syria, Yemen, and other countries.
Internships are unpaid. However, students may be able to arrange academic credit, as Human Rights Watch internships often offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by HRW staff, and interaction with other US and international organizations and foreign and domestic government officials. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.
Students will also have opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, professional development workshops, special events relating to human rights, as well as network with other HRW interns, volunteers, and employees. As an HRW intern, students will take skills acquired in school and apply them in a professional setting.
The intern will focus on a variety of projects relating to the Arms Division initiatives. The intern will learn and be exposed to:
- Tracking and identifying cluster munition and incendiary weapons attacks in Syria;
- Collecting and reviewing information pertaining to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Mine Ban Treaty;
- Conducting research on international negotiations on fully autonomous weapons;
- Media monitoring; and
- Contributing to advocacy work.
Other desk research and writing projects may be assigned depending on the intern’s interests and abilities.
- Applicants should be well-organized, self-motivated, and reliable with a strong interest in international human rights.
- Relevant coursework and previous desk research experience is desirable.
- Knowledge of a second language, particularly Arabic or another UN working language, is a plus.
- Computer skills (i.e., Microsoft Office and internet applications) are required.