Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is looking for an Intern in the Environment and Climate Change Unit

Organization: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Location: GENEVA

Level: INT - I-1

Job Family: HRI

Application Deadline: 20 September 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-283062-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Work Location: Geneva, Switzerland. This internship is designed to be in person

Expected duration: 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

As the leading UN entity on human rights, OHCHR has an independent mandate to promote and protect human rights across the world and to mainstream human rights throughout the UN system. OHCHR’s mandate, its expertise, convening power and partnerships, its role as custodian of the human rights mechanisms (treaty bodies, special procedures and Universal Periodic Review), and its experience with enhancing civic space and supporting human rights defenders, uniquely position the Office to support ambitious, rights-based environmental action. Precisely, the type of action that the IPCC, the HRC and other authorities have confirmed will result in more effective development policies that benefit both people and planet. OHCHR’s work on the environment, climate change and human rights is led by its Environment and Climate Change Unit in the Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESC) of the Thematic and Special Procedures Division (TSP). The internship will take place within the Environment and Climate Change Unit and the intern will report to the supervising Associate/Human Rights Officer. The intern will provide the Environment and Climate Change Unit with assistance in substantive areas of its work. Tasks will include:

1. Conduct research on substantive areas of work of the Environment and Climate Change Unit.
2. Support the drafting of a range of materials including reports, publications, newsletters and briefings.
3. Support the organization of events on issues related to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
4. Follow and support OHCHR engagement in a range of meetings, consultations, and briefings, including webinars, Multilateral Environmental Agreements COPs and the Human Rights Council.
5. Monitor the latest scientific evidence and developments related to environmental crises, nuclear legacies, and their human rights impacts.
6. Support coordination with and the dissemination of information to OHCHR colleagues and partners.
7. Support the preparation of Human Rights Council mandated activities.
8. Support efforts to strengthen OHCHR work to advance the right to a healthy environment at the regional and country level.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme in Law, International relations, Political Science, Development or related subject (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme in Law, International relations, Political Science, Development or related subject (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Knowledge in the field of human rights and/or the environment is desirable. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

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