IACHR

IACHR Internship Program

  IACHR interns, Winter 2012
  Click on any photo to enlarge it

 

  IACHR interns, Summer 2011
 

 

  IACHR interns, Winter 2011
 

 

  IACHR interns, Winter 2011
 

 

IACHR interns, Fall 2010

 

IACHR interns, January-April 2010

 

IACHR interns, September 2009

 

IACHR interns, September 2009
Photo Credits: Mario Lopez-Garelli

The Inter-American Commission has an Internship Program that is managed in conjunction with the OAS Internship Program. It gives young law students and recently graduated lawyers from the OAS Member States the opportunity to learn about the IACHR and work in applying the protection mechanisms provided by the inter-American human rights system, so that later this knowledge can be applied in the intern’s home country.

During the internship, the participants have the opportunity to work with the Executive Secretariat's attorneys on the various activities carried out by the IACHR. The program has three sessions each year, ranging from two to four months in duration. The internships are unpaid.

Over the years, dozens of young people have been interns or fellows at the IACHR. Many of them have gone on to defend human rights in their home countries, perhaps by representing victims of human rights violations, filing petitions and requests for precautionary measures with the Commission, advising civil society organizations that represent victims in the inter-American system, or working with government bodies and Ombudsmen’s Offices. The knowledge these young students and attorneys acquire on how the inter-American system works, through their experience at the IACHR, plays a role in their professional development in international human rights law, and also has a multiplying effect that takes place when they return to their home countries.

Objectives

The objective of the internship is to provide law students and recent law school graduates (or other related disciplines) from OAS Member States the opportunity to learn about the Commission’s work. It is also an opportunity to acquire practical training in the area of human rights.

During the internship, the participants have the opportunity to work together with the lawyers of the Executive Secretariat in different activities that are carried out by the IACHR.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply via the OAS Internship Program web page where an electronic application is accessible during application periods only (which are indicated in the table below). In this electronic application please be sure to indicate your interest in the IACHR. Additionally, please inform the IACHR of your application submitted via the OAS page, preferably by sending a copy of your documents already uploaded electronically in the OAS system, via email to cidhdenuncias@oas.org. 

If for any reason you are not able to complete the OAS online application process, please send the following required documents to the IACHR at cidhdenuncias@oas.org: 

1. A cover letter requesting the internship, specifying the start and ending dates. In principle the internships of the IACHR are full-time (40 hours per week) unless reasons can be provided to establish a part-time internship, for which the minimum number of hours is 20 per week.

2. Complete enclosed form. (APPLICATION FORM)

3. Two letters of recommendation: one from a professor in your major and the other from an employer or another professor.

4. Copy of university transcript.

The IACHR internship program offers three sessions per year which have established dates. However, longer periods can be considered based on availability or shorter periods with founded reasons, if applicable. The deadlines to apply are as follows:    

Information of Interest

The internship program is unpaid.

The IACHR is not responsible for visa issues.  If you are accepted into the internship program, you will receive an official letter that will aid you in the visa application process.

If you intend to receive certification for academic credit for your internship, you should inquire with the internship program of the OAS (http://www.oas.org).

For additional information please e-mail cidhdenuncias@oas.org

If you worked at the Commission or completed a fellowship or internship at the IACHR or one of its rapporteurships and would like to publish your photo, biography, or evaluation about your experience on the Commission's website, please write to the Commission's press director, María Isabel Rivero: mrivero@oas.org.