INTERN Sri Lanka accountability project

Work Location

Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration

This assignment shall be offered for a period of six (6) months, with an initial commencement date starting 1 September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the Head of OSLap, the intern will work in coordination with different members of the Project, as required. For additional information about OSLap, kindly visit https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/sri-lanka-accountability/index This internship is a non-renumerated and a full-time engagement that provides a framework through which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the United Nations by way of their service within Secretariat entities. Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations with a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter, and have the demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs - which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Attention to details and communication skills are paramount skillsets for this internship. Applicants should indicate their present matriculation status and period of availability in the application cover letter.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The intern shall support OHCHR in fulfilling its mission: to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.

Daily responsibilities of the Sri Lanka accountability project intern may include but would not be limited to assisting with tasks relating to:

• Review, catalogue and assist in the analysis of information relevant to OSLap’s mandate, including the extraction and consolidation of relevant information into structured datasets.
• Maintain and regularly update internal repositories of documentation, reports, and research materials related to human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Analyse and organize datasets and contribute to the production of statistical outputs and visualizations, where appropriate.
• Support the development and enhancement of information management systems.
• Conduct desk-based research on national and international accountability frameworks applicable to Sri Lanka, with particular attention to enforced disappearances.
• Collect, synthesize and summarize information and best practices from United Nations entities, non-governmental organizations, and academic sources on issues related to accountability in Sri Lanka.
• Undertake research and analysis of open-source information relevant to human rights violations and core international crimes.
• Support the planning, organization and coordination of meetings, events and other activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor, as appropriate.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: To qualify for an internship with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: Be enrolled in, or be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Applicants should preferably have a background in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, records management/archival studies, or a related field. No professional work experience is required for participation in the Programme. Applicants must be able to commence the internship on the date indicated in the letter of acceptance. Language: English and French are the working languages of United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Tamil or Sinhala would be an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.