Term-Time & Summer Internship Opportunities

Term-time internship with LGBT Rights Program at HRW
The LBGT Rights (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights) Program at Human Rights Watch (HRW) seeks a term-time intern, starting immediately, to assist with HRW’s policy development around the issue of sex worker rights. Interns would work on-site at HRW with both the LGBT and HIV/AIDS divisions and should be able to commit a minimum of 10 hours per week. Specifically, the intern would research legal precedents (at the international and domestic levels) involving sex workers’ rights, both from a human rights and a workers’ rights perspective. The intern would also investigate the various legal forms that decriminalization has taken in jurisdictions where it has been put into practice, and the human rights implications and consequences of various forms of regulation vs. decriminalization. Time allowing, the intern would also be asked to investigate protections for consent in sex work, human rights consequences of anti-trafficking measures, and the human rights implications of targeting the “demand point” in sex work regulation or anti-trafficking campaigns. The end result would be a contribution to an internal policy paper on sex work and human rights for Human Rights Watch, which would possibly be used in published reports and/or advocacy. The internship would start immediately and resumes should be sent ASAP to longs@hrw.org, ccing zielini@hrw.org.

- - SUMMER INTERNSHIP - -
PARTNERS FOR LAW IN DEVELOPMENT (INDIA) ANNOUNCES AN INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR NYU LAW STUDENTS

INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Partners for Law in Development [PLD], based in New Delhi, India announces an internship opportunity for law students from NYU with an interest in human rights, feminist legal theory and sexuality. The work will mainly entail research towards production of a resource book on ‘Rights in Intimate Relationships’. The resource book aims to [a] develop a rights framework and [b] discuss approaches to gender justice in co-habitations arising from marriage, customary unions and same sex relationships. The research will involve constructing a rights framework that derives from human rights, concerns of social movements and field studies, and strategies for application. Applications can be sent immediately and are due no later than February 15, 2007 (see details below).

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
PLD is resource group on human rights and the law. Our main area of focus is women’s rights and our approach draws strongly on the indivisibility of civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. We are based in New Delhi but work at the national level. As a resource group we build capacities and create knowledge resources for intermediaries such as community organizations, social justice lawyers, para-legal workers, NGO staff that directly provide support services to marginalized women. Our capacity building work is undertaken through support to social justice lawyers, running residential training programmes, providing technical assistance and creating knowledge.

THE PROJECT
This resource book on rights aims to address gender justice in wide ranging intimate relationships such as marriage, cohabitation, customary as well as same-sex relationships. It seeks to develop an understanding of rights based on feminist and human rights notions of justice within the private domain, regardless of the legal status or the form of the intimate relationship. The expected user group will be intermediary organizations, such as trainers, counselors, NGO staff, and the book will aim to provide information, perspective and strategies for application during dispute resolution/mediation in the field and for advocacy. That there is no equivalent resource material on this subject in the country or in the region makes it an innovative and challenging project. In going beyond the law to define rights, this book will be valuable for advancing gender justice as well as sexuality rights. Apart from serving as a resource book, the thematic coverage of the book will assist in the inclusion of socially marginalized groups, widen application of rights to stigmatized and excluded groups, and build perspective – each an important step in facilitating social transformation.

This project has been underway for about 2 years. Over 2005-06, the project was guided by a resource pool well known for their work on sexuality, feminism and pedagogy. The first leg of this project involved field work to map diverse social contexts of intimate relationships in rural and urban areas, among varied caste and class groups. The current leg of the project requires constructing a rights framework and integration of the field work within this framework.

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
The internship will involve legal research on international, select regional and comparative law, integration of social mapping with the rights framework and continued consultation with the resource pool. The work will ideally require research prior to placement as an intern, followed by research, brainstorming and consultation while based in Delhi, ideally for 12 weeks this summer [2007]. The internship affords opportunities to participate in campaigns that PLD supports, participation in organizational meetings, coordinating consultations with the resource pool and working with feedback. It offers opportunities to learn about activism in India and ground rights in specific contexts for practical use. Field work will not be required.

IDEAL CANDITATE: A law student studying international law. A demonstrated interest in feminism, sexuality and development will be an advantage. Continued engagement after conclusion of the internship is welcome if the student seeks long term involvement in these issues.

HOW TO APPLY:
All applications must be accompanied by a CV, a statement of interest no longer than a page, and the name and contact information of a referee. Applications must be emailed by February 15, as follows:
Sub: Applications for Internship
To: The administrative officer
pldindia@gmail.com
Tel: 91-11-24316832, 24316833

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact the administrative officer at the above email address.