1. Modality: remote work.
  2. Application period: Until August 15th, 2022, at 23:59 (EST), subject to change.
  3. Fellowship start and end dates: September 1st, 2022 to August 15th, 2023, subject to change.
  4. Length of Fellowship: 11.5 months
  5. Objective: To offer the opportunity to professionals from OAS Member States to learn about and apply the protection mechanisms of the inter-American human rights system in the area of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex persons. With this experience, the fellow must necessarily commit to work in their country of origin, for a minimum of 2 years for the recognition and guarantee of the human rights of LGBTI persons.

    The fellowship is open to professionals who are citizens and who reside, at the time of application, in one of the following OAS Member States: Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Costa Rica; Dominica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Panama; Mexico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago.
  6. Program: The fellow will support the work of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) Persons of the ES/IACHR, under the supervision of its specialists during the period of the fellowship; and, at the conclusion of the fellowship, will submit to a detailed report to the ES/IACHR on the activities carried out. The fellowship is subjected to funds availability.
  7. Expected Results:
    • Collaboration with the team of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of LGBTI Persons of the ES/IACHR in the elaboration of thematic and country reports.
    • Collaboration with the IACHR Executive Secretariat team in the processing of petitions, cases and requests for precautionary measures related to the rights of LGBTI persons.
    • Preparation of draft reports on petitions and cases related to the human rights of LGBTI persons.
    • Search for information to analyze the situation of the rights of LGBTI persons and preparation of the respective reports.
    • Preparation of summaries and other documents for hearings, working meetings and visits of the ES/IACHR related to the situation of the rights of LGBTI persons.
    • Collaboration in initiatives aimed at promoting and disseminating the Inter-American human rights system and the Rapporteurship on the Rights of LGBTI Persons.
    • Constant updating of the IACHR website regarding the work of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of LGBTI Persons.
    • Monitoring of the situation of the rights of LGBTI persons in the region.
  8. Requirements:
    • Citizenship and residence at the time of application in one of the following OAS Member States: Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Costa Rica; Dominica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Panama; Mexico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago.
    • To have the necessary technological equipment and services to, carry out remote work, including a stable Internet connection that allows for video calls.
    • Indispensable: the fellow will be required to work in their country of origin after the end of the fellowship for a minimum of 2 years from the end of the program. Before the end of the fellowship, the fellow must submit a written work containing a proposal to continue their work in the field of human rights of LGBTI persons in their home country. Likewise, by accepting to participate in the program, the Fellow agrees to participate in at least one annual meeting with the Rapporteurship team, the ES/IACHR and the donor of the project in order to learn about the results of their work during the post-fellowship period, for up to two years. Knowledge of other OAS official languages is desirable.
    • Fluency in English (attach certificate, if English is a second language).
    • Law degree from an officially accredited university (send copy of degree and grades obtained)
    • The university Law diploma must have been obtained within the last seven years.
    • Be admitted to practice law within the jurisdiction of one of the OAS Member States (in the absence thereof, please indicate the reason);
    • Demonstrable professional or university experience in the area of human rights; and
    • Essay (maximum 4 pages) not edited by another person, on a topic in the area of human rights of LGBTI persons that interests the applicant, in Spanish or English, using any format (no cover page or bibliography required).
  9. Required Documents: The following documents are required in order to be considered for the fellowship:
    • Cover Letter, explaining the applicant's interest in the fellowship;
    • Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional);
    • Curriculum Vitae;
    • Certificate accrediting English as second language, if applicable;
    • A copy of law degree and the grades obtained;
    • Proof of admittance to practice Law within the jurisdiction of one of the OAS Member States (if this is not possible, please attach an explanatory note);
    • Essay (maximum 4 pages) not edited by another person, on a topic in the area of human rights of LGBTI persons that interests the applicant, in Spanish or English, using any format (no cover page or bibliography required).

Note: All supporting documents required for the fellowship -with the exception of the essay- may be submitted in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. Only simple copies of the original documents are required. There is no need to translate or legalize them.

Letters should be addressed in general to the INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

Subject to the discretion of the ES/IACHR, the finalists will be asked to answer additional questions and meet with the team of the Rapporteurship.

  1. Benefits:
    • IACHR provides a stipend of US$3,200.00 per month for the duration of the fellowship. With this stipend, the fellowship recipient is responsible and required to purchase health coverage of their choice for the duration of the fellowship, and must formally accredit the purchase to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR;
    • IACHR will award a certificate of participation in the fellowship program to those who successfully complete the full duration of the fellowship.
  2. Responsibilities of the person selected to initiate the fellowship: :
    • The selected fellow must formally accept the fellowship, in writing, indicating to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that they are fully available to begin the fellowship remotely, with full-time dedication.
    • If the fellowship has been accepted, but for any justifiable reason cannot be completed, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights must be notified immediately so that it can decide on the appropriate actions and make the necessary arrangements.
    • It is the responsibility of the selected person to have the technological means necessary to begin the fellowship remotely on the date established by the IACHR.
    • In case of resignation, cancellation or termination of the fellowship after the program has begun, without presenting sufficient evidence of the cause to the ES/IACHR, the ES/IACHR must be reimbursed for all expenses incurred on the person.

IACHR is fully committed to equal employment opportunities, based on individual merit, without discrimination to any applicant based on ethnic-racial origin, disability, marital status, family status, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, among others.

To complete the electronic fellowship application form, click here. 

If the system asks for a "Survey ID", please enter the code FASLGBTI2022.

The results from the selection will be informed by e-mail to each applicant before the start date of the fellowship. Any questions can be addressed to: [email protected]

The Organization of American States does not discriminate against any person on the basis of racial or ethnic origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, sexual characteristics, or status as a parent.