Advocacy Intern - Summer 2025

About the position

The Washington, DC office of Human Rights First (HRF) seeks a motivated advocacy intern for the Summer 2025 semester to support the work of Human Rights First's advocacy team. Our team is looking for a currently enrolled graduate or a recent graduate who has a strong interest in and commitment to refugee rights and advocacy. The Refugee Advocacy internship intends to provide interns with a unique opportunity to take part in advocacy initiatives while working closely with immigration experts to advance HRF's advocacy objectives. The advocacy intern will strengthen their research, policy analysis, and advocacy skills through their participation in defensive advocacy efforts.

Responsibilities

• Intern responsibilities include refugee-related policies and advocacy research on issues related to human rights
• Research related to advocacy strategy and methodology
• Monitor, attend, and track congressional hearings, markups, and floor debates
• Research and track legislation, legislative history, legislators' backgrounds and voting records
• Assist staff with written and oral correspondence with partner NGOs and government offices
• Represent Human Rights First at various NGO-government liaison meetings and take detailed notes for Human Rights First staff, as needed
• Administrative and other tasks as needed

Requirements

• Excellent research, analytical, and communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to and/or informed knowledge of human rights and/or advocacy
• Excellent project management skills, capacity to take initiative, to finish assignments under pressure and to work collegially with others
• Strong attention to detail and time management
• Demonstrated ability to work with people possessing different viewpoints
• Fluency in another language is preferred but not required

Nice-to-haves

• Preferably located in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia

Benefits

• Unpaid internship
• Opportunity to gain experience in advocacy and human rights