CIVICUS, the global alliance of civil society organisations based in Johannesburg, is recruiting a Human Rights Intern for its UN Hub in Geneva. It’s a paid, full-time, six-month internship with a stipend of US$1,200 a month, and the job description lists the location as remote. The intern supports CIVICUS’s advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council and other UN human rights bodies.
Deadline: 15 November 2026 at 11:59pm South Africa time (SAST), which is 10:59pm in Lagos and 12:59am on 16 November in Nairobi. The internship starts in mid-January or on 1 February 2027.
At a Glance
| Organisation | CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation |
| Role | Human Rights Intern, UN Hub – Geneva |
| Contract | Full-time, 6-month internship |
| Stipend | US$1,200 a month |
| Location | Remote (job description) |
| Start | Mid-January or 1 February 2027 |
| Deadline | 15 November 2026, 11:59pm SAST |
What the Intern Will Do
- UN advocacy: support CIVICUS’s work with the UN Human Rights Council and other human rights bodies, and help draft advocacy plans, statements and speaking points.
- Member support: help CIVICUS members, partners and human rights defenders during their advocacy missions, including with logistics.
- Events and communications: help organise events and support the communications team.
- Research: assist with research on human rights and civic space, including drafting briefs and summaries.
- Administration: support office and file management.
The intern works under the supervision of CIVICUS’s UN Advisor and its UN Advocacy and Network Officer.
Benefits
- A paid internship with a US$1,200 monthly stipend for six months
- Hands-on experience of UN human rights advocacy in Geneva
- Work with a global alliance of more than 15,000 members in over 185 countries
- Contact with human rights defenders, civil society groups and UN processes
Eligibility
- A bachelor’s degree, or preferably a master’s, in international relations, law, politics or a related social science.
- At least 6 months of relevant work experience in international policy or advocacy.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Good IT skills, including MS Office.
- A good understanding of international relations, policy making, global politics and the civil society landscape.
- Ability to work in a team and with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Desirable
- Spanish or French.
- Being based in Europe and willing to travel to Geneva once or twice during the internship (for example in March and June 2027). CIVICUS lists this as a desirable extra, not a requirement, so applicants based in Africa can still apply.
How to Apply
- Read the full vacancy and job description on CIVICUS’s website (link below).
- Prepare a full CV with your education, qualifications, employment history, responsibilities and achievements.
- Write a cover note of no more than one page explaining why you want the role.
- Apply through CIVICUS’s online careers portal before 15 November 2026, 11:59pm SAST.
Official CIVICUS Human Rights Intern vacancy · CIVICUS careers portal
Tips
- Write your own documents. CIVICUS says it won’t consider AI-generated CVs or cover letters.
- Fill in the form by hand. CIVICUS asks applicants not to use autofill, to avoid errors.
- Show UN or advocacy experience. Mention any work on human rights reports, statements, the Universal Periodic Review or civil society campaigns.
- Be patient. CIVICUS only contacts shortlisted applicants, within about three weeks, and interviews take place in December 2026.
