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Human Rights Internships Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

U.S Comm for Refuge

Law Student Intern

Arlington, VA · On-site

... person internship at the Arlington, VA Headquarters, ideally 12-24/hr week . * Ability to commit for a Fall, Spring, or Summer term. * Dedication to human rights of refugees, immigrants, asylum ...

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Human Rights Internships information

See Reston, VA salary details

$14

$27

$43

How much do human rights internships jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for human rights internships in Reston, VA is $27.01, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.25 and $29.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Human Rights Internships vs Human Rights Fellowships?

AspectHuman Rights InternshipsHuman Rights Fellowships
CredentialsTypically undergraduate or graduate studentsUsually advanced students or early-career professionals
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, often in NGOs or international organizationsFellowship programs with more responsibilities, often in research or policy roles
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, NGOs, international agenciesResearch institutes, advocacy groups, international bodies
Search & Comparison IntentEntry-level, internship opportunities in human rightsAdvanced, specialized roles for early-career professionals

Human Rights Internships are typically designed for students seeking entry-level experience, while Human Rights Fellowships target early-career professionals with more specialized responsibilities. Both roles are vital in the human rights sector but differ in scope, experience level, and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Human Rights Internships, and why are they important?

To thrive in Human Rights Internships, you typically need a background in international relations, political science, or law, along with strong research and analytical skills. Familiarity with legal databases, human rights documentation tools, and proficiency in multiple languages are often advantageous. Excellent communication, cultural sensitivity, and teamwork abilities help interns effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and sensitive issues. These skills are crucial for promoting human rights advocacy, conducting impactful research, and contributing to organizational objectives in complex environments.

What are human rights internships?

Human rights internships are temporary work placements, often at non-governmental organizations, international agencies, or governmental bodies, where students or recent graduates gain hands-on experience in the field of human rights. These internships typically involve research, advocacy, event planning, and support for projects related to promoting and protecting human rights. Interns can learn about international human rights law, policy development, and the workings of organizations dedicated to social justice. These positions are valuable for building careers in law, international relations, public policy, and non-profit sectors.

What kind of projects or tasks can I expect to work on during a human rights internship?

As a human rights intern, you can anticipate working on a variety of projects such as conducting research on current human rights issues, assisting with the preparation of reports and advocacy materials, and supporting outreach or educational initiatives. Interns often help monitor relevant news, attend meetings or events, and contribute to casework or policy analysis. Collaboration with team members—including lawyers, researchers, and other interns—is common, offering valuable exposure to real-world advocacy and project coordination in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
What are popular job titles related to Human Rights Internships jobs in Reston, VA? For Human Rights Internships jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Human Rights Internships jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Human Rights Internships jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Human Rights Internships jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Human Rights Internships job openings:
Human Rights Internships jobs near you
Infographic showing various Human Rights Internships job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,184 per year, or $27 per hour.
2026 Summer Intern: U.S. Immigration Policy and Community Engagement

2026 Summer Intern: U.S. Immigration Policy and Community Engagement

Refugees International

Washington, DC • On-site

$5.0K/day

Temporary, Internship

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

We're happy you are here. If you are looking to be part of a vibrant, inspiring, mission-driven organization full of thinkers and doers, then read on. If you aspire to apply your research, program, outreach, and documentation skills to a transformational organization, apply for this internship.
Refugees International is seeking a 2026 Summer Intern to focus on the U.S. immigration policy, community documentation, and storytelling. The intern will support RI's work to document the experiences of immigrant communities, advocates, service providers, and others affected by federal immigration enforcement. This work may include supporting community-centered research, resource and partner mapping, outreach and engagement, meeting and event coordination, and literature review on ethical documentation, community archives, oral histories, and best practices for preserving stories and evidence related to immigration enforcement and resistance.
When you join us, you will be an integral contributor to a non-governmental organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for refugees and other displaced people. Our work focuses on documenting the impacts of federal immigration policies, elevating the experiences of people seeking protection, and supporting advocacy that advances access to safety, dignity, and due process.
Refugees International seeks great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and we specifically encourage members of refugee, immigrant, asylum-seeking, or other displaced communities to join us.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Supporting RI's documentation and research related to federal immigration actions, and their impacts on immigrant communities and the organizations that serve and support them;
  • In collaboration with community partners, completing a resource and community mapping of organizations, advocates, service providers, grassroots groups, impacted communities, and other stakeholders connected to immigration response work;
  • Providing administrative support for active work streams, including tracking tasks, organizing materials, maintaining shared documents, supporting follow-up, and helping coordinate ongoing project needs;
  • Supporting outreach and engagement efforts designed to expand participation by volunteers, community partners, advocates, and people with relevant lived or professional experience;
  • Assisting with event and meeting organization, including scheduling, preparing agendas and materials, coordinating logistics, taking detailed notes, and summarizing key discussions and action items;
  • Conducting a literature review on ethical storytelling, oral history methods, trauma-informed documentation, and data stewardship;
  • Helping identify best practices for creating safe and community-centered spaces to preserve stories, data, written accounts, and other materials related to immigration policy and protection challenges;
  • Drafting short memos, summaries, background materials, outreach language, and other written products as needed;
  • Supporting other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPECTATIONS
  • Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, or have graduated within the past year;
  • Be seeking the internship as part of an educational experience related to the program in which you are enrolled;
  • Have a strong interest in the U.S. immigration policy, refugee protection, community documentation, storytelling, human rights, and humanitarian affairs;
  • Have familiarity with immigration enforcement, community-based advocacy, or archival/storytelling work;
  • Have strong research, writing, organizational, communication, and administrative skills;
  • Be interested in ethical documentation practices, including oral histories, digital evidence, written accounts, quantitative data, and community-centered approaches to preserving lived experience;
  • Be based within the United States;
  • Lived experience is welcomed but not required;
  • Work at least 250 hours, as guided by RI staff or partners;
  • Begin in late May 2026 and end no later than late August 2026;

COMPENSATION
$5,000 stipend
TO APPLY
Please include your resume, cover letter, and a one - to two - page writing sample. Applications should be submitted by May 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by Refugees International.
ABOUT REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL
Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. We do not accept any government or UN funding, ensuring the independence and credibility of our work.
Refugees International is an equal-opportunity employer committed to promoting a workplace reflective of the people it serves. Refugees International welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors.

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