Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship

Due to technical issues, this vacancy was reposted on September 6, 2018. Applicants who applied previously will automatically be considered, and do not need to take further action.

Established in memory of Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg, early supporters of Human Rights Watch (HRW), this fellowship is open to candidates who hold an advanced (graduate) degree or have a degree granted by June 2019 in the fields of law, journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from universities worldwide. Candidates with LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.

Human Rights Watch is strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our staff and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, women, LGBTI persons, and persons with disabilities.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Fellows typically work full-time for one year in Human Rights Watch’s New York or Washington, D.C. office. In some instances, other locations may be considered. The fellowship begins in September 2019.

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. 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; and police abuse of gay men in Kyrgyzstan.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:  An advanced (graduate) degree in the fields of law, journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines is required. LL.Ms are also eligible. LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.

Experience: Prior research experience, including experience conducting interviews, ideally in the context of human rights research, is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrated strong background in international human rights and commitment to building a career in human rights are required.
2. Excellent oral and written communications skills in English are required.
3. Proficiency in another language in addition to English is strongly desired, as is familiarity with countries or regions where serious human rights violations occur.
4. Self-motivation, ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.
5. Strong initiative and follow-through, exceptional analytical skills, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent editing skills, perseverance and flexibility while maintaining HRW’s high methodological standards are required.
6. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.
7. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

Salary and Benefits: The salary for 2019-2020 fellows is US $60,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: Please apply immediately or by 11:59 PM ET on October 5, 2018 by visiting our online job portal and attaching a CV/resume, letter of interest, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others), preferably altogether as one PDF file. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted further.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to submit the following: two letters of recommendation and an official law or graduate school transcript.

Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from late November to mid-December 2018.

Please direct inquiries, including technical difficulties with your application submission, to fellowship@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.  

For more information, please see the FAQs: FAQs Fellowship. 

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We do not discriminate in hiring practices and actively seek a diverse applicant pool. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with criminal records to apply. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

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 governments and international institutions.

Application Deadline: October 5, 2018