Front Line Defenders are seeking expressions of interest from exceptional candidates from the 2025/26 relative academic programmes for the post of Frank Jennings Fellow 2026-2027 for a 12.5 month internship programme commencing from May 2026.

Overview

The FJ Fellow will spend three and a half months at Front Line Defenders Dublin office where they will be trained in relation to Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the procedures and methodology of the mandate; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of Human Rights Defenders. The Fellow will then enter an internship programme at the OHCHR and will move to Geneva for a period of six months before returning to Front Line Defenders for a further three months.

Background

Front Line Defenders, The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (www.frontlinedefenders.org) was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the aim of providing practical assistance and protecting human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk - people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Front Line Defenders fellowship programme is designed to bring motivated individuals with diverse backgrounds into the organization to gain technical and administrative skills; enrich their learning, knowledge and experience; and to build capacity in the human rights sector. The Fellowship is also designed to support and contribute to Front Line Defenders’ work in the advancement and protection of human rights defenders internationally. 

Front Line Defenders maintains its headquarters in Dublin, an EU Office in Brussels, and regionally based field staff in all world regions.

Role responsibilities

When in Dublin:

• Supporting FLD Protection Coordinators with correspondence with human rights defenders; 

• Support the drafting urgent appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk around the world 

• Input HRD related information on the FLD database; 

• Support follow-up on cases taken up by Front Line Defenders or other specific projects relating to Human Rights Defenders as requested; 

• Minute taking, briefings, reports, appeals; 

When in Geneva OHCHR

• Gather information on the situation of human rights defenders around the world with a particular focus on themes of concern identified by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights.

• Assist with the drafting of urgent appeals and communications to Governments concerning human rights violations against human rights defenders and support follow-up cases;

• Analyze replies received from Governments and prepare summaries for inclusion in the annual Human Rights Council (HRC) report; 

• Assist in the drafting of annual reports to the HRC and the General Assembly; 

• Assist in the preparation of background materials for official missions by the Special Rapporteur; 

• Assist in liaising with non-governmental organizations for the smooth implementation of the mandate, as needed. 

Benefits

• €30,629 per annum

• 13 annual leave days while serving in Dublin 

• Flights between Dublin & Geneva for the start and end of the fellowship

• Health and travel insurance

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) while serving in Dublin

• Monthly Well-Being Provisions while serving in Dublin

Whilst in Geneva, OHCHR internship regulations will apply. 

Requirements 

Interested applicants must:

• Be within current or one year since completion of their Degree in human rights, social sciences, development or humanitarian studies, or a related field. 

• Native or native-level English and fluency in Spanish or French (please note we can’t make exceptions to the language requirements). 

• Good oral and written communication skills

• Computer literate. 

• Excellent administrative skills

• Excellent drafting skills and a proven ability of synthesizing and condensing large amounts of information into succinct briefings.

• Some knowledge of the UN system and international and human rights law. 

Candidates must have permission to work in Ireland and Switzerland for the duration of the Fellowship.