The aims of the internship programme are:
To increase the capacity of the OHCHR’s regional Office in Bangkok to fulfill its responsibilities;
To help strengthen the capacity of organizations in Asia-Pacific to work on human rights issues by giving existing human rights workers or graduate students intending to work in this field, an opportunity to broaden their human rights experience and knowledge;
To give interns exposure to the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Asia-Pacific and human rights related work in other UN agencies;
To broaden the understanding of interns of current human rights issues in Asia-Pacific and globally;
To give interns an introduction to the functioning of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms.
Interns are integrated in the OHCHR team, they participate and contribute to staff meetings and discussions, research human rights issues, draft papers and reports, develop and maintain information databases, and provide support to other OHCHR activities. Interns work under the supervision of OHCHR’ s staff. Interns receive some information sessions on the United Nations and human rights issues. In addition, interns have an opportunity to attend lectures, and other events related to human rights held in Bangkok.
Graduate students willing to gain academic credit should make arrangements with their academic institution prior starting their internship.
Internships with the United Nations are unpaid, although graduate students may benefit from work-study funds. Applicants already working for a human rights organization may be supported by their organization under conditions agreed both by OHCHR and the organization sponsoring the intern.