To assist students in finding a meaningful internship, the Human Rights Program has put together an internship guide that lists an extremely broad range of nongovernmental organizations in NYC, including organizations working on such issues as children’s rights, economic and social rights, the rights of immigrants and refugees, international justice, LGBT rights, national security, press freedom, prison conditions, and women’s rights.

To apply for an internship, students are generally required to submit a resume and cover letter, and occasionally a writing sample and list of references. If you are a student who is interested in undertaking a human rights internship, you should contact the director of the Human Rights Program the semester prior to the planned internship to get advice about where, when, and how to apply.

Resumes should be short (1-2 pp.), clear, well-formatted, and professional in tone and style. They should list work and educational qualifications, describe any volunteer activities, and emphasize the applicants’ human rights experience. (The resume should mention, for example, that the student is pursuing a minor in human rights at Hunter.) Students should always spell-check their resume and ask at least one other person to review it.

Note that large organizations such as Amnesty International sometimes require prospective interns to apply for semester-long or summer internships a few months before the semester begins. For example, Amnesty International USA asked applicants for summer 2012 internships to submit their applications by February 15, 2012 (though the organization continued reviewing applications on a rolling basis after that deadline). Other organizations welcome applications from students who are seeking an internship that starts immediately.