Unpaid Internship with the Media Outreach and Spokesperson's Office at the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), Geneva (3 to 6 Months)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has advertised international internships with its Media Outreach and Spokesperson's Office (MOSO), part of Executive Direction and Management. MOSO engages with the media and promotes the messaging of the High Commissioner and the Office through speeches, news releases, press briefings and other media products. Its media officers also publicise the work of the Special Procedures and the Treaty Bodies.

The intern is based in Geneva, Switzerland, works under the overall guidance of the Chief of Section/Spokesperson and reports to the Deputy Spokesperson or the Public Information Officer in the assigned unit. The internship is unpaid and full-time, offered for an initial three months and renewable for a combined period of six months with the supervisor's approval, with a commencement date starting from October 2026. Job opening number: 284487 (posting title: Intern - Human Rights, I).

Daily responsibilities depend on the intern's background and may include researching current human rights issues to aid media and public information outreach. In particular, the intern may:

• monitor media and social media and compile daily clippings of news coverage of the Office, the Treaty Bodies and the Special Rapporteurs;
• help prepare material for press conferences and the Spokesperson's bi-weekly press briefing;
• assist with setting up and running events;
• research and provide material, including audio-visual content, for media and social media platforms;
• assist in researching material for speeches;
• perform other related duties requested by the supervisor.

To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, applicants must, at the time of submission, be enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent), be enrolled in a graduate school programme (Master's or equivalent, or higher), or have completed such a degree, preferably in law, communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, political science, social sciences or a related field. If selected, the candidate must start on the date in the acceptance letter. No working experience is required.

The notice places no nationality restriction on applicants, so Indian students and graduates who meet these academic criteria may apply.

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset, and knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an advantage.

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Switzerland may need the appropriate visa and work authorisation, and successful candidates should discuss visa requirements before accepting an offer.

The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Apply online through the UN Careers portal using the job opening page (job opening 284487).

The posting closes on 14 October 2026 at 03:59 UTC, which is 9:29 AM IST on 14 October 2026 (11:59 PM New York time on 13 October 2026). In practice, submit by the night of 13 October 2026 (IST).