David Mepham Advocacy & Communications Division Intern

London Office

Application Deadline: 16 May 2024

The Advocacy & Communications Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW) is currently seeking applicants for the David Mepham internship program for Spring/Summer 2024 in the London office to start as soon as possible. Ideally, the candidate will be available 3-5 days per week, either part-or full-time at a maximum of 35 hours per week, beginning in May 2024 for five months (dates and hours are flexible).

The intern will work closely with staff in the UK Advocacy and Communications team. The intern will provide substantive assistance for the advocacy activities, press work, digital and multimedia communications, and administration. The intern will conduct desk research on UK foreign policy, domestic, and general human rights issues; undertake advocacy assignments; assist with developing advocacy strategies; help coordinate advocacy meetings and prepare accompanying memos; help organise advocacy trips of HRW-staff to London; participate in and note take during internal and external meetings; maintain communications among the offices of HRW, NGOs, the media and the public; and assist with maintaining the London HRW advocacy database. Moreover, the intern will assist with building and promoting HRW’s media presence and profile in the UK, including monitoring the coverage of HRW in the UK press, organising communications events, and updating media databases.

The David Mepham internship is designed for interns to gain insight into how an international organisation operates and build relevant experience for a new or returning entrant to a career in human rights. As such, while the intern will work primarily with the UK Advocacy and Communications team, they will also gain familiarity with the work of other divisions based in the London office including thematic or regional research, legal, operations, etc. Specifically, the intern will also be given the opportunity to spend one day per week working towards our biggest fundraiser, the Voices for Justice Annual Dinner, with the UK Development and Outreach team. Collectively, the London office is committed to the learning and well-being of the David Mepham intern making the most of the experience of an international organisation whilst working within a small friendly office.

This unique internship is named in memory of David Mepham (1967-2018) who led HRW’s UK office from 2011 to 2018.  As UK Director of Human Rights Watch, David led HRW’s thinking on engaged, targeted, pragmatic foreign policy advocacy; communicating with a wider public about the relevance of human rights; and paid entry to employment in the human rights sector.

Responsibilities: The internship will focus on primarily assisting the Advocacy & Communications Division in the UK. The intern will learn and be exposed to:

  • Providing advocacy and research support to the UK Advocacy team and UK Director, including conducting desk research and drafting memos and notes on specific domestic and foreign policy issues.
  • Using available resources to conduct desk research, including reviewing UK policy documents, legislation, case law, academic scholarship, and other relevant information.
  • Working on advocacy goals and strategies linked to relevant projects.
  • Identifying and understanding key opportunities for advocacy and advocacy targets in relation to the UK government, parliamentarians, institutions, and international and non-governmental organisations.
  • Liaising, as deemed appropriate, with officials from the UK Government and other institutions, both governmental and non-governmental.
  • Assisting with the coordination of advocacy meetings.
  • Participating in the internal advocacy strategy meetings and external meetings with UK officials, diplomats and others.
  • Drafting clear and concise research memos.
  • Assisting with the maintenance of the London HRW advocacy and media databases.
  • Support the UK Development and Outreach team with the following tasks:
    • Assisting with event planning and coordination including material preparation and logistics, background research on guests;
    • Drafting written content for the event including guest correspondence, briefing documents for staff and guests; and
    • Other administrative support to the UK Development team as required.
  • Gaining familiarity with work of other divisions based in the London office including of thematic or regional research, legal, operations, etc.

Additional opportunities:

  • Direct exposure to the workings of a large, international human rights organization;
  • Induction training on the internal working of HRW;
  • Access to HRW materials and publications;
  • Attending select in-house events such as speaker series events and other events organized within the organization, particularly for interns;
  • Attending relevant internal staff and outside meetings and events related to human rights; 
  • Obtaining academic credit (students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements).

Qualifications/Skills: 

  • A bachelors’ degree or equivalent or be enrolled in an accredited, degree-granting undergraduate or equivalent. Students with relevant coursework or graduates focusing on human rights, communications, international relations, and international law are strongly encouraged to apply;
  • Well-organised, self-motivated, and reliable;
  • Knowledge of and a strong interest in international human rights;
  • Strong research and writing skills;
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, internet applications) are essential;

Successful applicants must possess valid work authorization for the United Kingdom for the duration of the internship.

Salary: Intern for this post will be paid the London Living Wage of £13.15 per hour. Human Rights Watch offers twenty-five days of vacation prorated per year pursuant to the work schedule and length of employment.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately by visiting our online job portal at: https://careers.hrw.org and attaching a CV/resume, letter of interest/cover letter, and a brief writing sample. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Due to the large number of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted further.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, please email internships@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.

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