2013-2014 Fellowships in International Human Rights

For recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from universities worldwide.

Unrestricted Fellowships

Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship – Established in memory of Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg, early supporters of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”), this fellowship is open to recent graduates (at the Master’s level) in the fields of law, journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies. Graduates with LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.

Arthur Koenig Fellowship – Established in 2010, the Arthur Koenig Fellowship is a two-year fellowship designed to help bring talented people from disadvantaged economic backgrounds or from communities deeply affected by human rights abuse into the human rights movement. The Arthur Koenig fellowship is open to recent graduates (at the Master’s level or above) in the fields of law, journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies. Graduates with LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.

In addition to the application materials described below, applicants must submit an essay describing their economic disadvantage and/or how human rights abuse shaped their lives and continues to affect them.

Restricted Fellowships

Aryeh Neier Fellowship – Created to honor the legacy of Aryeh Neier, this two-year fellowship is open to recent graduates of US law schools or applicants who will have graduated from a US law school by June 2013. Neier fellows spend one year at Human Rights Watch documenting a human rights problem inside the United States, and the second year at the American Civil Liberties Union, seeking reforms through advocacy and litigation. (For more details, please visit http://www.hrw.org/node/92079.)

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Fellows typically work full-time in Human Rights Watch’s New York or Washington, D.C. office or in some instances in another location. The NYU, Sandler, and Finberg Fellows work full-time for one year with Human Rights Watch. The Arthur Koenig Fellow works full-time for two years with Human Rights Watch. The Aryeh Neier Fellow works full-time for one year at Human Rights Watch and one year at the ACLU.

Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy and media outreach aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.

Past fellows have conducted research and advocacy on numerous different issues in countries all over the world. Recent examples include projects on: criminal defamation laws in Indonesia; the rights of persons with mental disabilities in Croatia; corporal punishment of children in public schools in the US; abuses against migrant domestic workers in Kuwait; and abuses in the criminal justice system in South Sudan.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must demonstrate a strong background in international human rights and be committed to building a career in human rights. Research experience, including experience conducting interviews, ideally in the context of human rights research, is required. Field experience in human rights work is strongly desirable. Applicants must have exceptional analytic skills and excellent oral and written communications skills in English. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly desired as is familiarity with countries or regions where serious human rights violations occur.

Applicants should be highly motivated and well-organized; able to work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a member of a team; able to juggle multiple tasks; and able to meet tight deadlines. The fellowship year will require creativity, initiative, perseverance, and flexibility while maintaining HRW’s high methodological standards.

Depending on the fellowship for which they wish to apply, prospective fellows must be recent graduates of law, journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies, or must provide evidence of significant, comparable, relevant work experience. (Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for the specific requirements of the various fellowships.)

Fellowships begin in September 2013.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for 2012-2013 fellows is US$55,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits. The salary for 2013-2014 is currently under review and may be increased.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 11, 2012

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

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.