WILPF Internships in Geneva

Disarmament | Human Rights | Management | Volunteers | How to Apply | Alumnae

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom currently offers two annual programme internships and one annual management internship for young women who wish to learn more about the work of our organization in the areas of disarmament, human rights and NGO management, in the context of the United Nations and International Organizations. Candidates should be self-motivated, able to work independently, creative, flexible, and not afraid to take initiative. A positive attitude and solid writing skills (in English) are also required.  

The internships are reserved for women in recognition of the fact that women remain largely excluded from positions concerned with questions of foreign policy, international relations and management, although their presence in these crucial areas is much needed. Priority is given to women between the ages of 20 and 30, and preference is given to WILPF members. Fluency in oral and written English is essential; Spanish and French speaking skills are an advantage for the work of the interns.

The interns reside in Geneva. The programme internships focus on work of the United Nations, WILPF, and the community of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in disarmament/economic justice or human rights. WILPF sees these issues as inter-related and emphasizes the need for a gender perspective. The management internship focuses on WILPF, our sections, membership, communications and every field of work related to NGO management.

The interns prepare articles, reports and other materials in their respective subject areas for publication by WILPF and help in the preparation of WILPF meetings and events. Interns attend NGO and UN meetings on behalf of WILPF. They all participate in the management of the office and the organisation. They actively take part of the community life of the office and are involved in the administrative tasks of the International Secretariat such as maintaining the database, updating the website, proof-reading, preparing letters, mail outs and other office jobs.

If you need more information, please contact the WILPF International Secretariat Geneva.

Internship in Disarmament

Accepting Applications for 2009

The Disarmament internship runs from mid-January to mid-December each year. The deadline for applications is June 30th, 2008. Applicants will receive notice by September 30th.

The internship is named after Inga Thorsson, a former Ambassador of Sweden to the UN at the Conference on Disarmament and a prominent WILPF member. She was the first and most vocal proponent of an approach that sought to recognize the connection between disarmament and economic justice.

In disarmament, WILPF works on nuclear disarmament, small arms and the militarization of space. WILPF also focuses on the relation of globalization with militarism and economic injustice. The programme focuses on the work of the UN and NGOs in their promoting and strengthening efforts for disarmament and the peaceful settlement of conflict, as well as their involvement in economic justice and North-South relations.

The intern’s main responsibilities are to: attend and report on sessional meetings of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), including scanning and posting documents to the Reaching Critical Will website; working with the NGO Committee on the Status of Women - Working group on Peace to organize and execute the annual 8 March Seminar; working with other NGOs in Geneva; and more.

The intern reports in those fields, alerts WILPF to events and new publications, and proposes actions for WILPF. She also takes part in and helps organize activities by WILPF and those organized jointly by non-governmental organizations. The disarmament intern divides her time between program work, administrative work, and office maintenance. Furthermore, in order to develop the intern's managerial skills and only if she is comfortable with it, the annual intern is invited to select, train and manage a short-term voluntary intern (2 months) during the course of her internship.

By the end of the year, the intern is required to submit a report on her experience with WILPF.

Internship in Human Rights

Accepting Applications for 2009

The Human Rights internship runs from mid-January to mid-December each year. The deadline for applications is June 30th, 2008. Applicants will receive notice by September 30th.

WILPF aims to expand the parameters of what are usually considered “human rights” by promoting the concept that the violation of human rights stems from political, economic and social situations. WILPF does not focus on protesting or documenting individual violations, rather the core areas of WILPF’s work are: economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development; anti-racism, including migrants’ rights; human rights of women and gender-specific human rights violations; peace and disarmament as preconditions for the enjoyment of human rights.

The intern follows and reports on the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, its working groups, the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and meetings of UN Agencies. She assists in preparing statements for the meetings and is expected to report on their outcomes.

The intern also participates in NGO meetings and helps organize activities by WILPF and/or the NGO community. She reports on developments, alerts WILPF to events and new publications, and proposes actions for WILPF. She further maintains relations with the WILPF sections and informs them on a regular basis, via e-mail and regular mailings, on UN or NGO activities in the human rights field. The Human Rights intern divides her time between program work, administrative work, and office maintenance. Furthermore, in order to develop the intern's managerial skills and only if she is comfortable with it, the annual intern is invited to select, train and manage a short-term voluntary intern (2 months) during the course of her internship. More details about the short-term human rights internship are listed in the Volunteer section below.

By the end of the year, the intern is required to submit a report on her experience with WILPF.

Internship in Management

Accepting applications for 2007-2008

The Management internship runs for 12 months. We are looking for a Management intern to start early Fall 2007. Please submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for the position.

The International office of WILPF is located in Geneva, and it aims to coordinate the 37 national sections and their members. Thus, management plays a central role within the WILPF network.

The internship in management covers the areas of marketing, communication, administration and requires fluency in oral and written English and French. Spanish speaking skills are an advantage for the work of the management intern.

The management intern's main responsibilities are to: ensure that the office runs smoothly, liaise with the national sections, manage the database, update the international website, help organizing conferences and seminars and assist the Secretary General and International Office Manager in every field of work related to NGO management and development.

Like the programme interns, the management intern allocates some time to office maintenance. In addition, the management intern is invited to allocate 30% of her time to cover and report on a UN matter relevant to WILPF international programme. Furthermore, in order to develop the intern's managerial skills and only if she is comfortable with it, the annual intern is invited to select, train and manage a short-term voluntary intern (2 months) during the course of her internship.

By the end of the year, the intern is required to submit a report on her experience with WILPF.

Volunteers

WILPF always welcomes local volunteers to assist the International Secretariat fulfill its mandate. Specifically, WILPF regularly needs assistance with website work and administrative tasks such as data entry, filing, and sending our monthly mailing. Knowledge of Dreamweaver and Microsoft Access are a plus.

Even if you can only donate a few hours of your time a week, a little extra help goes a long way to make the office run smoothly and is a much appreciated contribution! If you are interested, please send an e-mail to: inforequest(at)wilpf.ch

How to Apply

The internships in Disarmament and Human Rights begin in mid-January and end in mid-December.
The Management internship runs for 12 months. The next position is available from Fall 2007.

All applications must be submitted in English and should state clearly for which of the three internships the application is submitted. Selections will be made on the basis of:

Deadline for Applications

Applicants must send all documents, including references, in one envelope post marked by June 30th, 2008 for the Disarmament and Human Rights internships and as early as possible for the Management Internship via hard copy. Candidates whose application packages are received incomplete will not be considered.

All applications should be sent to:

WILPF
Case postale 28
1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland

Applicants in disarmament and human rights will be informed by late September whether or not they have been short-listed. The final selection will be made by 30 October of the year in which they apply. Applicants in management will be informed by late September whether or not they have been selected for the position.

Conditions

Disarmament and Human Rights Internships
WILPF pays for the intern’s round-trip travel from her home to Geneva and pays a small stipend which only covers basic living expenses in an expensive city. Accommodation shall also be funded by WILPF. As above mentioned, do to the current global finical crisis this can be changed.

Management Internship
WILPF does not currently cover any expenses for this internship.

Health insurance and all other insurance, except accident insurance, are the intern’s own responsibility. Please note that health insurance is a requirement to working in Switzerland.

Contact the International Office in Geneva for more information.

About WILPF

The organization was established in 1915, in The Hague, when more than 1200 women from belligerent and neutral countries met to protest the war and to work for conditions in which permanent peace could be constructed.

WILPF aims to bring together women who are opposed to war, violence, exploitation, and all forms of discrimination and oppression, who wish to unite in establishing peace based on economic and social justice for all, without distinction of sex, race, class or creed.

It sees as its goal a world economic and social order founded on the absence of violence, the acceptance of a pluralistic human society, respect for fundamental human rights, and the recognition that unless the riches of our world are shared equitably there can be no peace or security for anyone.

To achieve this goal, WILPF works for the rights of women, equality for all, the integrity of the person and the community, general and complete disarmament, the prevention of war and the peaceful settlement of conflict, for world co-operation and solidarity, for economic and social development that meets the needs of all peoples and safeguards the natural environment on which all life depends.

The League works for the development of, and respect for international law and for the strengthening of the UN and its Specialized Agencies.

WILPF Internships in New York

WILPF'S UN Office in New York offers periodic internships for both the PeaceWomen and Reaching Critical Will projects. These unpaid short term internships are available on a rolling basis. For more information, please contact the WILPF UN Office.

WILPF Alumnae

We encourage previous interns and volunteers to join our Alumnae.

-last updated 25/09/07