Spring 2021 Advocacy Intern
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is seeking an Advocacy Intern to advance the International Advocacy and Litigation team’s work for 10 weeks beginning in February 2021. Interested candidates should submit an application for consideration by 5pm EDT on Monday, January 25, 2021.
Department:
Our team of lawyers and issue experts collaborate with partners around the world to create lasting legal change. Through legal advocacy, we have freed political prisoners, defended the rule of law in autocratic regimes, and amplified the voices of human rights defenders in the United States and abroad. We present the annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, which recognizes a courageous individual whose activism reflects Robert F. Kennedy’s belief that every individual can make a difference. The award’s recipients enter multi-year partnerships with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, anchoring our advocacy work and strengthening the activists’ ability to make gentler the life of the world.
Role: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights uses multi-faceted advocacy strategies to visibilize and complement our litigation work, including the annual human rights award, webinars, reports, blog posts, op-eds, social media posts, videos, and press releases. The Advocacy Intern would assist the team in planning, researching, and drafting advocacy materials and in executing any advocacy activities, primarily related to the organization’s work on civic space and non-discrimination.
Duties:
- Assisting in research and drafting of blog posts, short articles, social media posts, and other materials in support of RFKHR’s ongoing cases and focus areas.
- Assisting in planning, developing materials for, and execution of Zoom-based webinars with partner organizations in Africa and Latin America.
- Analyzing news articles on impermissible restrictions to civic space flagged by the team, with an eye towards identifying trends and creating public-facing content and advocacy tools.
- Curating Twitter lists for the team’s core issue areas, including civic space and gender-based violence in Latin America.
- Researching and drafting a short memo identifying and analyzing successful advocacy campaigns or other creative advocacy strategies related to international human rights and social justice and making recommendations on advocacy campaigns to support RFKHR’s ongoing work, the RFK Human Rights Award Laureates and other partners.
- Providing additional support to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights staff on an as-needed basis.
Qualifications:
- Applicants must have completed at least one year of graduate study in communications, public relations, or a related field at the start of the internship and have a well-established interest in human rights.
- The ideal candidate will have an understanding of regional and universal human rights mechanisms, familiarity with Zoom and with Twitter, Facebook, and other social media channels, demonstrated experience in drafting public-facing materials for various audiences, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Attention to detail, you’re able to scope out errors and willing to fix mistakes.
- Time management, you have the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at once.
- Self-starter with the drive to propose and execute content pieces on their own.
- Flexible, patient, and ability to stay gracious under pressure.
- High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
- Innovative thinking, a willingness to voice opinions, and a strong work ethic are essential.
- Teamwork, you are able to build positive relationships with your colleagues and are willing to help others.
- Inclusive, you’re excited to work with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives from your own.