Internship Description: The Human Rights Watch ("HRW") Los Angeles Office is seeking a current student to support local advocacy and outreach initiatives. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with campaigns to eliminate the rape kit backlog in Los Angeles and to end life without parole sentencing for youth in California; tracking state and federal legislation; supporting an advocacy subcommittee comprised of volunteers and activists; updating and maintaining databases, calendars and files; and tracking and planning meetings with elected officials.
 
This internship is best suited for those individuals interested in gaining experience within a large, well-organized, international non-profit organization. Interns will gain knowledge of advocacy efforts, outreach, information tracking, as well as knowledge of the organization's priority human rights issues.  
 
Internships are unpaid. Interns are required to commit to a minimum of 15 hours per week spread over two or three weekdays for a minimum of three months. Academic credit can often be arranged as HRW internships often offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by the HRW staff, and opportunities to attend special events relating to human rights.  Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.
 
Qualifications:  Applicants should be well-organized, multifaceted, self-motivated and reliable, with a strong interest in human rights and advocacy.  Experience and/or interest in working with volunteers is preferred. Availability for a minimum of 15 hours per week, two or three days per week and occasional night events is a must. They must also possess an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook, and familiarity with Internet research tools.  The intern must be an enrolled student during the internship term.  
 
Applicants who are offered an internship, but who are not US permanent residents, US citizens, or in possession of a valid student visa, must apply for a J-1 visa through a sponsoring organization.  This process can take several weeks and applicants will have to incur their own costs.
 
How to Apply:  Please apply immediately by sending a letter of interest, resume, three names or letters of reference, and a brief, unedited writing sample (no calls or email inquiries, please) to LAjobs@hrw.org.  Please use "Advocacy and Outreach Internship Application" as the subject of your email.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.  
 
More information on the LA internship program can be found at: http://www.hrw.org/en/cities/la/internships
 
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.