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 influential
governments and international institutions.
For recent graduates of law schools or graduate
programs in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other
relevant disciplines from universities worldwide.
Unrestricted Fellowships
Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship - Established
in memory of Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg, early supporters of Human
Rights Watch (“HRW”), this fellowship is open to recent graduates (at
the Master's level) in the fields of law, journalism, international
relations, or other relevant studies. Graduates with LL.B. degrees or
advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.
Arthur Koenig Fellowship - Established
in 2010, the Arthur Koenig Fellowship is a two-year fellowship designed
to help bring talented people from disadvantaged economic backgrounds
or from communities deeply affected by human rights abuse into the human
rights movement. The Arthur Koenig fellowship is open to recent
graduates (at the Master's level or above) in the fields of law,
journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies.
Graduates with LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant
disciplines may also be considered.
In addition to the application materials described below, applicants
must submit an essay describing their economic disadvantage and/or how
human rights abuse shaped their lives and continues to affect them.
Restricted Fellowships
NYU School of Law Fellowship at HRW - This fellowship is open to 2013 J.D. graduates of New York University School of Law only.
Leonard H. Sandler Fellowship -
Established in memory of Judge Leonard H. Sandler, a 1950 Columbia Law
graduate with a lifelong commitment to civil rights and liberties, this
fellowship is open to recent J.D. graduates of Columbia Law School only.
Aryeh Neier Fellowship - Created to
honor the legacy of Aryeh Neier, this two-year fellowship is open to
recent graduates of US law schools or applicants who will have graduated
from a US law school by June 2013. Neier fellows spend one year at
Human Rights Watch documenting a human rights problem inside the United
States, and the second year at the American Civil Liberties Union,
seeking reforms through advocacy and litigation. (For more details,
please visit http://www.hrw.org/node/92079.)
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Fellows typically work full-time in Human Rights Watch’s New York or
Washington, D.C. office or in some instances in another location. The
NYU, Sandler, and Finberg Fellows work full-time for one year with Human
Rights Watch. The Arthur Koenig Fellow works full-time for two years
with Human Rights Watch. The Aryeh Neier Fellow works full-time for one
year at Human Rights Watch and one year at the ACLU.
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. Recent examples
include projects on: criminal defamation laws in Indonesia; the rights
of persons with mental disabilities in Croatia; corporal punishment of
children in public schools in the US; abuses against migrant domestic
workers in Kuwait; and abuses in the criminal justice system in South
Sudan.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must demonstrate a strong background in international
human rights and be committed to building a career in human rights. Research
experience, including experience conducting interviews, ideally in the
context of human rights research, is required. Field experience in human
rights work is strongly desirable. Applicants must have exceptional
analytic skills and excellent oral and written communications skills in
English. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly
desired as is familiarity with countries or regions where serious human
rights violations occur.
Applicants should be highly motivated and well-organized; able to
work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a member
of a team; able to juggle multiple tasks; and able to meet tight
deadlines. The fellowship year will require creativity, initiative,
perseverance, and flexibility while maintaining HRW's high
methodological standards.
Depending on the fellowship for which they wish to apply, prospective
fellows must be recent graduates of law, journalism, international
relations, or other relevant studies, or must provide evidence of
significant, comparable, relevant work experience. (Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for the specific requirements of the various fellowships.)
Fellowships begin in September 2013.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for
2012-2013 fellows is US$55,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits.
The salary for 2013-2014 is currently under review and may be increased.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 11, 2012
Applicants are responsible for compiling complete application packets which must include the following:
- cover letter
- resume
- two letters of recommendation
- an unedited, unpublished writing sample (no legal briefs, please)
- an official law or graduate school transcript (applicants in one-year graduate programs should supply an undergraduate transcript with a list of their graduate school courses)
-
Arthur Koenig Fellowship applicants only: In addition to the cover
letter, resume, letters of recommendation, transcript, and writing
sample, applicants must also submit an essay describing the aspects of
their background that have been economically disadvantaged and/or how
human rights abuse shaped their lives and continues to affect them.
Applicants may wish to consider the following when writing this essay:
- The economic circumstances of their family, including during childhood.
- Their history of need-based financial assistance used to complete their education to date and their experience working to make a substantial financial contribution to their own education.
- The highest education level attained by one or both parents, or whether the candidate is a first generation university graduate in his or her family.
- How human rights abuse has affected their lives and how they are working to overcome its effects.
- Please limit the essay to no more than 1,000 words.
Complete applications (including transcripts and recommendations) for 2013-2014 fellowships must be received no later than October 11, 2012. Applications should be sent by e-mail, under single cover (in one email) and preferably as one PDF file (or, at a minimum, as separate PDF files), to fellowship@hrw.org with the name of the fellowship in the subject line.
Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from late November to mid-December 2012. Inquiries may be directed to fellowship@hrw.org. Please see http://www.hrw.org/about/fellowships for more information.
Human Rights Watch is an equal
opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices
and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a
diverse applicant pool.
Moreinfo: http://www.hrw.org/about/fellowships
