Human Rights Internship
Internship with the South African Human Rights Commission
Position: Legal / Legislative Number of positions: 2 Length of Internship: 8-12 weeks Are you interested in politics, law or the promotion of human rights? Then a legal and legislative human rights internship at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) may be the perfect fit for you. Today South Africa has one of the most liberal constitutions in the world, one that enshrines a respect for human rights. Yet protecting these human rights cannot be left to individuals or the government alone; there must be independent institutions to ensure that human rights are protected in a country which before 1994, was governed by one of the most repressive regimes of the 20th century. The South African Human Rights Commission was established in 1995 and is a government-funded organisation entrusted with monitoring the human rights of people living in South Africa. The Commission works with government, civil society and individuals - both within South Africa and internationally - to handle complaints regarding human rights violations and to create a culture of human rights through advocacy, research, and legal functions. The tasks of the SAHRC are to: - Investigate complaints of violations of human rights and seek appropriate relief. There are two types of human rights internships available at the SAHRC: legislative and legal. The legislative internship at the SAHRC will enable you to work in the Parliamentary offices of the SAHRC, dealing specifically with legislative matters. This work will involve researching bills for Parliament and possibly assisting with the writing of official policy papers and submissions. Occasionally, you may be given the opportunity to visit Parliament to monitor legislation of interest to the Commission, and to attend weekly corporate boardroom meetings at the SAHRC offices. You will work with human rights leaders in civil society, and you’ll come away with a working knowledge of South Africa’s parliamentary system and current legislative debates. If you are interested in human rights legislation or seeking real world experience in politics, you simply cannot pass up this amazing opportunity! The legal internship in human rights at the SAHRC will allow you to work within South Africa’s well-developed legal system, with some of the best legal minds on the African continent. During this internship you will be involved in the SAHRC’s monumental task of investigating and dealing with complaints of human rights violations from people living in South Africa. This type of work involves assisting people who feel that their human rights have been violated, and walking them through the legal process of addressing these violations. On occasion, you may get the opportunity to attend arbitration hearings and to go with clients to the equality courts. If you have ever thought about a career in law, you should most definitely apply for this internship. An internship in human rights at the SAHRC will allow you to gain insight, not only into how an independent national institution like the SAHRC functions, but also true understanding of current human rights issues in South Africa. This sort of internship looks fantastic on a resume, particularly given the SAHRC’s reputable stature both within South Africa and abroad. “My internship was well worth the investment, as I was able to see up-close the relationship between poverty and neo-liberal capitalism as well as the various interactions between intergovernmental organizations and NGOs. I now return home equipped with essential skills to further my career in the field of international relations, and with a leg up on the competition by having actually worked in a foreign country.”
VACorps Testimonials
Read what past participants have to say about our program.
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Kelsey VanderhoofGenre of Internship:Occupational Therapy Dates of Participation: July 2012 - September 2012 |
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"I took the summer off following graduate school intending to travel the world, but found myself not knowing where to start. Rather than spending my summer spending money, I decided ... read more |
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Kate BrennanGenre of Internship:Film / Sociology Dates of Participation: June 2012 - August 2012 |
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"Before coming to Cape Town, everyone asked me, Why Cape Town? Truth be told, I didn’t really have an answer. Dissatisfied with the growing monotony of my life back in the states, ... read more |
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Ryan ChiarelloGenre of Internship:Public Health Dates of Participation: May 2012 - July 2012 |
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"My internships with TB/HIV Care Association and Ikhaya Le Themba After-School Program were educational and transformative. Volunteer Adventure Corps definitely "hit the head on the nail" with ... read more |
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Tegan HendersonGenre of Internship:Education Dates of Participation: March 2012 - May 2012 |
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"When I arrived back in London a week ago, everyone’s first question, of course, was “so how was it?!”? I am not kidding when I say my response is always ... read more |
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Samantha MurrayGenre of Internship:Journalism/Social Justice Dates of Participation: September 2011 - May 2012 |
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"On my first day in the Mother City, I asked someone why so many people come to Cape Town but never leave?
“..Because Cape Town will steal your soul ... read more |
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Kelly StoneGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: June 2011 - August 2011 |
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"I boarded a plane in mid-May having just finished my second year of law school. I left a great job and a set career path because I wasn’t ... read more |
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Jennifer ReynoldsGenre of Internship:Occupational Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - November 2011 |
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"There’s no easy way to sum up my experiences here. Everything I’ve done, everyone I’ve met and all the places I’ve been have been amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for ... read more |
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Claire BrightonGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: November 2009 - February 2010 |
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"On the 19th of November 2009, fresh out of law exams, I boarded a plane bound for Cape Town, South Africa, in the pursuit of sunshine, adventure and ... read more |
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Whitney TaylorGenre of Internship:Media and Gender Dates of Participation: May 2011 - August 2011 |
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"When I first thought about interning in South Africa, so many what-ifs ran through my mind. I knew everything would be different than what I was used to back home. ... read more |
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Jeremy HintonGenre of Internship:Physical Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - October 2011 |
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''I tried my best to prepare for my two months in Cape Town. I Google-Mapped South Africa and spotted out a few of the big cities, I wikipedia’ed Cape Town ... read more |
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Franca del SignoreGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: October 2009 - March 2010 |
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"In the process of changing my career path, and having decided an internship was the best way to achieve this goal, I set out on a search for a ... read more |
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Luke ClearyGenre of Internship:Advertising Dates of Participation: June 2008 - August 2008 |
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"Chances are, if you’ve made your way to the testimonials page of this website you’re already on the cusp of the adventure of a lifetime. Go ... read more |
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Alisha GibsonGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: March 2011 - May 2011 |
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“My internship placement was, as I would say, banging!! It was the best ever! I got to experience my dream job of delivering babies right before my eyes. ... read more |
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Juliane HundtGenre of Internship:Refugee Work Dates of Participation: April 2009 - June 2009 |
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“VACorps was not the first internship program I participated in; however, the experience was one-of-a-kind. The organization was one of the few international placement agencies offering positions with a refugee ... read more |
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Justin BeanGenre of Internship:Sustainable Energy Dates of Participation: June 2010 - August 2010 |
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“Why do you want to go all the way to South Africa to do an internship?” Someone asked me before I departed for Cape Town. The ... read more |
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Josh DilkGenre of Internship:Human Rights Law Dates of Participation: September 2009 - February 2010 |
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"Cape Town, South Africa was a natural destination for me when the recent economic recession postponed when I would begin working at my Firm. Having recently graduated from law ... read more |
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Gerald ThamGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: May 2010 - July 2010 |
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"I'd like to thank the whole VACorps team for making this adventure-of-a-lifetime not only possible, but even more spectacular and meaningful than my wildest expectations! It's an even ... read more |
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Elsa PetersonGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: January 2009 - January 2009 |
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“When I decided I wanted to travel and live abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I had no idea that my life ... read more |
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Michelle Pinter-PetrilloGenre of Internship:Urban Agriculture Dates of Participation: January 2011 - April 2011 |
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“During my sophomore year while looking at options for studying abroad I quickly realized that I did not want to study at a university. Instead of spending my time in ... read more |
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Tim LaRoccoGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: January 2009 - April 2009 |
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“When the opportunity to participate in a professional internship in Africa presented itself to me, I had a feeling it ... read more |
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Zach LoftonGenre of Internship:NGO Development Dates of Participation: March 2010 - July 2010 |
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"My ten weeks in Cape Town, South Africa were invaluable! It was easily one of the greatest experiences of my life. Volunteer Adventure Corps provided me with an opportunity ... read more |
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Giulia NotariGenre of Internship:Gender Advocacy Dates of Participation: July 2011 - September 2011 |
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"VAC's passion for Cape Town and South Africa is contagious. I am leaving Observatory very sad and nostalgic because thanks to VAC I have had an amazing experience and made ... read more |
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Anna DowlingGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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"Spending four months of my life in South Africa has been a life-changing experience that has transformed and enriched me as a person. Working at Heideveld Day Clinic offered me ... read more |
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Kelly SmithGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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"In my language there is a saying “Ndiwelimilambo enamagama” ( I have crossed famous rivers). It means that one has traveled a great distance, that one has had wide experience ... read more |
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Matt RussellGenre of Internship:IT/Software Development Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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"From the first day I arrived in Cape Town, feeling like a naïve tourist at the airport to the final hours I spent trying to squeeze in one last hike, ... read more |
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