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:

      - Develop an awareness of human rights among the people of South Africa.

      - Make recommendations to the state to improve the carrying out of human rights.

      - Undertake studies and report to Parliament on matters relating to human rights.

      - 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.”  

 -This was an appraisal from Tim LaRocco, April 2009, speaking of his human rights internship in Cape Town, South Africa.