Human Rights Watch offers a number of fellowships to recent graduates of law schools or Graduate Programs in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from universities worldwide. The application for 2014-2015 HRW fellowships is now open.
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.
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.
Restricted Fellowships: NYU School of Law Fellowship at HRW - This fellowship is open to 2014 J.D. graduates of New York University School of Law only.
Leonard H. Sandler Fellowship - Established in memory of Judge Leonard H. Sandler, a 1950 Columbia Law graduate with a lifelong commitment to civil rights and liberties, this fellowship is open to recent J.D. graduates of Columbia Law School only.
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.
- 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: police corruption and access to justice in Liberia; accessibility for people with disabilities in Russia; youth in solitary confinement in US prisons; hazardous child labor in artisanal gold mining in Tanzania; police abuse of gay men in Kyrgyzstan.
Eligibility
- 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.
Fellowships begin in September 2014.
Salary and Benefits: The salary for 2013-2014 fellows is US$55,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits. The salary for 2014-2015 is currently under review and may be increased.
Application Checklist: Applicants are responsible for compiling complete application packets which must include the following:
- cover letter
- resume
- two letters of recommendation
- at least one unedited, unpublished writing sample (no legal briefs, please)
- an official law or graduate school transcript (applicants in one-year Graduate Programs should supply an undergraduate transcript with a list of their graduate school courses)
Application Deadline: October 16, 2013.
Submitting you Application: Complete applications (including transcripts and recommendations) for 2013-2014 fellowships must be received no later than October 16, 2013. Applications should be sent by e-mail, under single cover (in one email) and preferably as one PDF file (or, at a minimum, as separate PDF files), to fellowship@hrw.org with the name of the fellowship in the subject line.
Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from late November to mid-December 2013. Inquiries may be directed to fellowship@hrw.org.
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.
For more information, and to apply, visit their website by http://www.hrw.org/about/fellowships