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What We Do
Human Rights in China was founded by Chinese students and scholars in March 1989. We promote and support international human rights in China in many different ways:
- Advocating human rights issues by talking to governments and the UN
- Helping human rights defenders amplify their voices by bringing attention to their cases
- Informing journalists, government and UN representatives, corporations and other organizations about important human rights issues
- Sharing information and strategies with activists and NGOs around the world
- Creating tools and resources to turn research into action
You'll enjoy working at HRIC if you are:
- Passionate about human rights and online activism;
- Interested in learning more about human rights issues in China; and
- Looking for a friendly, professional, fast-paced, international work environment.
Please note that internships are currently offered only in the New York office.
What You'll Do Here
HRIC's internships offer direct and in-depth exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, domestic and international advocacy work, and participation in HRIC's projects, research and briefings. Interns are an integral part of the culture and work of our organization.
Some projects that interns have worked on in the past include advocacy for individuals, research on systemic issues, and preparation for workshops and other events:
- Compiling an archive of oral histories from the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China.
- Researching and preparing for the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions, including advocacy papers and backgrounders.
- Gathering facts and preparing submissions on political prisoners for the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
- Editing and writing for the quarterly English-language journal, China Rights Forum.
- Reorganizing and updating the online Chinese-language Human Rights Resource Center.
- Layout and design for various research and advocacy products.
- Updating and drafting issues backgrounders on thematic topics, such as labor rights, business and human rights, and militarization.
- Preparing for a workshop gathering activists and academics to discuss ethnic minority issues in China.
- Providing support for advocacy and parallel reports to UN treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee for the Elimination of All Discrimination Against Women, and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Advocacy and Research Program Internships
Under the supervision of advocacy and research staff, interns will provide critical support for HRIC program work, and usually split their time between administrative work and research projects, including backgrounders, in-house memos, translations, and work on various advocacy and communications tasks to support international advocacy programs.
Qualifications
- Candidates should be currently enrolled in or just graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program
- Familiarity with/interest in international human rights mechanisms such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Special Procedures
- Familiarity with/interest in human rights issues in China
- Preferred proficiency or fluency in Mandarin Chinese
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Strong writing and Internet research skills
- Extremely organized, self-motivated, and reliable
- Computers skills: website design, desktop publishing, familiarity with PCs and Macs, Microsoft Office, working with Access databases and Excel spreadsheets
Law Program Internships
Under the supervision of the Director of Law Programs, interns will work on current HRIC projects that require a combination of field, legal and web research, and analytical writing for various audiences, such as the public, media, or supervising staff at HRIC.
Qualifications
- Candidates must be currently enrolled in a JD or LLM program
- Demonstrated commitment to and a knowledge of international human rights
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Strong research skills and knowledge of Westlaw and LexisNexis
- Relevant coursework, e.g. international human rights law, international law, international trade, Chinese law, or clinical experience
- Preferred proficiency or fluency in Mandarin
- Extremely organized, self-motivated, and reliable
How You Can Join Us
We encourage you to apply for internships at HRIC! Applicants should enjoy working in a friendly and casual office environment that requires the highest professional standards and ethics. Interns are expected to make a commitment for the duration of the semester, or for a minimum of 10-12 weeks during the summer. The supervisor and intern will set up the intern's weekly schedule at the start of the internship. Interns receive a lunch stipend. Depending upon the requirements of the intern's home institution, academic credit for the internship may be arranged.
Please mail in a cover letter, a resume including relevant coursework, and a brief writing sample to internships@hrichina.org.
Indicate which internship you are applying for in the e-mail subject line.
Application Submission Deadline
Applications must be received by:
- March 1 for Summer
- June 1 for Fall
- October 1 for Spring
Late applicants will be considered if there is space available. All applicants will be notified of our receipt of application; only selected applicants will be contacted for phone or in-person interviews. We will attempt to confirm the final status for all applicants within one month after the application deadline.
All inquiries should be submitted via e-mail. No calls, please.
