Internship at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague: Presidency, Legal and Enforcement Unit [6 Months; Unfunded; Apply by 31 December 2026]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Under requisition 24220, the Legal and Enforcement Unit of the Presidency is recruiting interns at its duty station in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Presidency is one of the four Organs of the Court, composed of the President and the First and Second Vice-Presidents, elected by the Judges. Its responsibilities cover judicial and legal functions (constituting and assigning cases to Chambers, judicial review of certain decisions of the Registrar, Court-wide cooperation agreements with States and inter-governmental organisations), the administration of the Court, and external relations.

The vacancy announcement is used to give hiring managers a list of suitable candidates from which they may make a selection throughout the year, so applicants must state their availability when applying.

Working under the supervision of the Legal Adviser to the ICC President, the intern will contribute to:

• In-depth legal research in administrative, human rights and public international law and other relevant areas, on procedural and substantive issues, in support of the Presidency's decisions on applications for judicial review.
• Support in all aspects of the enforcement of sentences and international cooperation.
• Drafting legal opinions on the interpretation of the Court's legal texts, ASP resolutions, international treaties and similar instruments.
• Preparing and servicing internal meetings and committees.
• Preparing speeches, letters, background papers and reports for the President and the Presidency.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Education: a degree, or being in the final stages of studies, at a recognised university, demonstrating very good knowledge of public international law, international humanitarian law, human rights law, comparative law, or international/national criminal law. A very good record of academic performance is expected.
• Experience: applicants must have less than three years of relevant full-time professional experience. Practical experience is not essential; relevant experience may be considered an asset.
• Skills: ability to adapt to multicultural and multilingual environments; strong teamwork skills; very good oral communication and drafting skills; good computer skills (including Microsoft Office) and research skills (including electronic databases).
• Languages: proficiency in French or English, the working languages of the Court, is required; working knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish is an asset.
• Nationality: the ICC's internship FAQ states that, unless otherwise specified in the vacancy, candidates from non-State Parties are eligible to apply for an internship. This vacancy specifies no restriction, so Indian candidates may apply. Nationals of non-represented and under-represented countries are encouraged to apply.

The vacancy lists a contract duration of 6 months. Interns are required to work full time for a period between three and six months, to be agreed before commencement, and placements are usually not extended beyond six months. ICC internships are in person at the Court's headquarters in The Hague.

The ICC states that internship and visiting professional placements are unfunded. The Court cannot provide any remuneration, nor reimburse expenses incurred before, during or after the placement. Applicants must be able to support themselves for the entire duration of the internship.

• A completed 'Duties and Responsibilities Form' (step 1 on your eRecruitment profile page).
• Motivation letter (maximum 400 words).
• Two reference letters (one academic).
• Scanned copies of university degrees and/or diplomas.
• Scanned copies of official academic transcripts stating your courses, results and completion date.
• One short essay on a subject relevant to the work of the Court (maximum 750 words, single spaced, typewritten).

The ICC only accepts applications submitted through its career portal and does not accept email applications. Register with ICC eRecruitment, complete your candidate profile, open requisition 24220 and click 'Apply', then submit the application following the system prompts. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2026.

Due to the volume of applications received, only successful applicants will be contacted by the Court.