Human Rights Commission

About

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is a prominent international NGO with headquarters in New York City. Built upon a strong tradition of advocating for human rights around the world, the group is composed of about 450 people from many different nations and walks of life. These people have taken up professions such as law and journalism, and are now committed to directing their work towards attracting the attention of governments, armed groups and businesses in order to catalyse change and law reform to address human rights violations.

What kind of work?

As a globally influential think tank, researchers for HRW have investigated countless records of human rights abuses. They have also expanded to researching issues in terrorism, world hunger and discrimination against women, members of the LGBT+ community and people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Media Department of HRW develops strategies and plans campaigns to further the group’s reach.

Location

New York, Various regional offices (including Sydney)

Student Opportunities

HRW's Development and Outreach Interns will primarily contribute to outreach and development initiatives, using database, monitoring press coverage, planning events, using social media to promote events, and conducting background desk research. Other projects may be assigned as they arise and match the intern’s interests.

Interns will be available for three months beginning in early-mid October 2020 with the possibility to extend.

Vacancies will appear on the HRW Career Search function as they become available: https://careers.hrw.org/jobs/?job_type=Internship/Volunteer

Graduate Opportunities

Vacancies for full-time roles will appear on the HRW Career Search function as they become available: https://careers.hrw.org/jobs/?job_type=Internship/Volunteer

Fun Fact / Recent Project

Petitions Human Rights Watch is committed to starting public petitions to incite social change. One of these petitions concerns the need for transparency in an industry which often concels abuse against workers behind the countless layers of textiles produced by workers in developed countries.

The vast majority of workers do not know whom to turn to for improving their working conditions because the brands they make clothes for are kept secret. This lack of transparency allows brands to avoid accountability and fuels abuses against workers.

Transparency benefits workers—they can inform brands when they experience labor abuses. Transparency also helps brands—they can better take steps to stop and prevent labor abuses.

Currently, 40 companies have committed to the Transparency Pledge, but hundreds continue to hide where they make their clothes.