INTERNSHIP
Human Rights Now – Internship Positions
Tokyo, Geneva, & New York
Human Rights Now (HRN), an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo with UN
consultative status, is currently taking applications for internships in Tokyo, Geneva, and New
York.
The internship allows university and law school students and others interested in human rights,
public policy, and international affairs a chance to gain experience working directly on humanrights issues at an influential international human rights NGO. Internships provide an excellent
opportunity for interns to engage in research, on-site investigations, and observations of UN
conferences and meetings. Persons who have legal backgrounds or experience with research or
human rights work are highly encouraged to apply. Past interns have come from schools such as
Columbia Law School, NYU Law School, UC Berkeley Law School, and Tokyo University andhave gone on to work with organizations such as UNHCR, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,and major law firms.
We accept internship applications at Tokyo, Geneva, and New York throughout the year. For
summer internships, we typically take applications up to February and often make a decision
around February or March. For other periods we are more flexible and often make decisions
about 3 months before the internship’s start. We still take Fellowship applications (for periods of6 months or longer) at any time.
Due to the coronavirus situation and travel restrictions, work for all three locations is remote andmay not require one to work from the city itself, but this may change as regulations change.
Internships are unpaid.
You can find out more about Human Rights Now and the kind of work we do from our website:
http://hrn.or.jp/eng/. Please review the site to understand our mission before applying.

About Human Rights Now
Human Rights Now (HRN) is an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, Japan withUN special consultative status. HRN was established in 2006 by a group of human rights
professionals, such as lawyers, scholars, and journalists, as the first international human rights
NGO based in Japan. With over 700 members comprised of various human rights specialists,
HRN works for the promotion and protection of human rights for people in the world, with a
special focus on Asia. In 2012, HRN obtained UN special consultative status, and we have been
actively engaged in the UN decision-making process to protect and promote human rights. In ourorganization, lawyers, academics, graduate and doctoral students, and business professionals
engage in our activities on pro bono basis, and staff members are expected to coordinate withthese various actors.
Qualifications and Requirements for all internships:● Current students in a law school or a four year college degree or graduate program areencouraged to apply, but internships are not limited to students.
● The position is unpaid and funds are not available to cover interns’ expenses, includingtransportation fees.
● The intern must be able to work at least 18 hours per week for at least 3 months or more.
● Currently internships are remote. If this changes, then the intern must be able to commute
to Human Rights Now’s office (in Tokyo and New York) and work sites (the HumanRights Council in Geneva)● Proficiency in English (a minimum score of 90 on the TOEFL iBT exam or an equivalentlevel as indicated by another test or means if available). Also please notify us of any
Japanese language proficiency and provide a demonstration if available, such as passing
the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or similar● Basic understanding of law and international human rights law and the UN system● Excellent writing and research skills● Currently internships are remote. If this changes, then the intern must be able to stay inthe country for the period of work (and in the US case, ability to work). Please note that
unfortunately HRN cannot assist in obtaining visas.

Details for Each Office:
1. Tokyo, Japan
Our Tokyo headquarters is focused on our central activities of advocacy and research on humanrights issues, in which interns may have an opportunity to participate. Tokyo interns will conduct
research on human rights issues and will assist with drafting memorandums, statements andreports. Other tasks may include translation, assisting with advocacy efforts, and assisting withhuman rights events and teaching human rights topics to the public. Interns will also assist withlogistics and coordination of overseas projects.
Job description:1) Internal communication, meetings2) Outreach, logistics, networking and administrative work
3) Assisting the organizing of events, coordinating campaigns4) Researching and writing on issues within our focus including:● Armed conflict and human rights● Accountability for gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, international
justice● Business and human rights● Rights of children● Human rights defenders and democratic space● Humanitarian disarmament● Women’s rights, violence against women5) Translation and other miscellaneous work
In addition, designated interns may be able to participate in international conferences, on- site
investigations both in Japan and abroad, and human rights educational projects.
Note: Research interns who demonstrate a high degree of capability may be appointed as a“research fellow” and given a paid opportunity to conduct research or listed as a co-author in ourpublications.
2. Geneva
Interns for our Geneva office are focused on our advocacy efforts with the Human Rights
Council and other relevant conferences/meetings in Geneva.
Interns will attend meetings of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to monitor the entire process,including side events and informal consultations and report back to the supervisor, and researchand draft memorandums, statements and reports. Interns will be given the opportunity to makeoral statements based upon the instructions made by the Tokyo headquarters. Other tasks may
include translation, research and writing reports on human rights issues, assisting with advocacy
efforts, and building our network with other NGOs.
Job Description:1) Internal communication, meetings2) Outreach, logistics, networking and administrative work3) Observing the following conferences and meetings and reporting back to the supervisor● UN Human Rights Council regular sessions (September, March and June)● HRC’s Working Group on Business and Human Rights (November)● HRC emergency sessions● UN human rights treaty body sessions● UN conventions on disarmament● Other relevant UN meetings4) Attending the relevant NGO meetings and reporting back to the supervisor5) Assisting the organizing of side events, NGO briefings
6) Researching and writing on issues within our focus, including:● Armed conflict and human rights● Accountability for gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, international
justice● Business and human rights● Rights of children● Human rights defenders and democratic space● Humanitarian disarmament● Women’s rights, violence against women7) Translation and other miscellaneous work
3. New York, USA
Interns at our New York office are involved in our advocacy efforts with the UN headquarters
and other relevant organizations in New York. Interns will attend meetings for UN bodies andother relevant organizations to monitor specific human rights issues, take notes, and report to thesupervisor. Other tasks may include outreach, logistics, translation, researching and writing
reports on human rights issues, assisting with advocacy efforts, and building our network withother NGOs.
Job Description:1) Internal communication, meetings2) Outreach, logistics, networking and administrative work3) Observing the General Assembly (September to December), CSW (March) and other relevant
UN meetings and reporting back to the supervisor
4) Attending the relevant NGO meetings and reporting back to the supervisor5) Assisting the organizing of side/parallel events, NGO briefings
6) Researching and writing on issues within our focus, including:● Armed conflict and human rights● Accountability for gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, international
justice● Business and human rights● Rights of children● Human rights defenders and democratic space● Humanitarian disarmament● Women’s rights, violence against women7) Conducting investigations of human rights violations in the USA8) Translation and other miscellaneous work
The job may include other tasks related to these. The work will be in English, so a high level ofEnglish ability is necessary. Please submit a writing sample in English. If English is not yournative language, please report your test scores to demonstrate English proficiency. Japaneseability is not necessary but may be helpful.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in applying to these positions, please send the following items to the below
email address. Please also indicate any language skills you possess.
● Cover letter (include your reason for applying, the location for which you are applying,desired start and end dates, and your experience and interest in human rights)● Resume / CV-For Tokyo applicants: in English and/or Japanese-For New York or Geneva applicants: in English, or both English and Japanese● Writing sample (the topic of the sample can be decided by the applicant, anything thatcan serve to measure the applicant’s writing and/or research skills.)● Letter of recommendation (optional; one copy is sufficient)
Email Address: deskprobonointern@hrn.or.jp
You can also use this email address for any inquiries regarding this call for applications.
Selection and Interview Process:Receiving an internship at HRN is a competitive process. After initial screening, selected
applicants will be contacted and interviewed at our Tokyo office or via Zoom depending on

location and availability. Please note that we cannot respond to any inquiries on the progress ofselection and will not return application documents once received.
Deadline:
Formally there is no deadline. We accept internship applications at Tokyo, Geneva, and New
York throughout the year. However, for summer internships, we typically take applications up toFebruary and often make a decision around February or March. For other periods we are more
flexible and often make decisions about 3 months before the internship’s start. After this period,
we would be taking applications for the next period. We still take Fellowship applications (forperiods of 6 months or longer) at any time.
Duration:We are hoping for a commitment of at least 18 hours per week for at least 3 months or longer.
We also accept full-time summer, spring, and fall interns.