Why did we start this programme?
Nothing can succeed unless it is sustainable. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor believes that providing temporary support to target groups without making efforts to empower them in the long term not only reduces the effectiveness and impact of an initial relief operation, but can also have negative consequences for victims by keeping them helpless and in need of continuous support. While we work hard to defend and restore the rights of victims, our main focus is to assist in their transition from recipients of aid to active defenders of their rights and the rights of their communities.
Although our team collaborates with dozens of international and local human rights organisations, we recognise that we cannot reach and protect all individuals and communities from abuse unless we create true human rights defenders within those communities. This is why Euro-Med Monitor launches its training programme each year in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe—as part of a strategic plan to ensure the continuity of efforts to defend human rights, and make the greatest possible impact by training and preparing young people to be ambassadors and unwavering defenders of vulnerable groups in their communities.
The fact that more than 70% of the current Euro-Med Monitor staff are victims or survivors of human rights violations makes our work more effective and impactful than ever. In fact, many of our team members were previously trainees or volunteers in Euro-Med Monitor training programmes.
You can now join them to make a real change in your community!
“For many years now, our efforts have been focused not only on defending rights, but also on preparing and enabling individuals to defend their own rights. When you defend individuals’ rights, you protect them, and when you teach them how to defend their rights, you protect an entire society.”
Ramy Abdu, Chairman of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor
70%
of Euro-Med Monitor staff and volunteers are survivors of human rights violations, or are presently victims of rights violations who are fighting for their rights
80%
of the Euro-Med Monitor’s team is made up of young people
30%
of Euro-Med Monitor internship programme participants were offered jobs within the organisation, following successful completion of the programme
55%
of Euro-Med Monitor employees were previously volunteers or trainees within the organisation
Aim of the programme
In 2011, Euro-Med Monitor launched intensive campaigns of lobbying and advocacy to defend the rights of victims of armed conflict, including their right to freedom of opinion and expression, in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to defend the rights of migrants and asylum seekers who are in Europe as a result of these rights violations. In many cases, however, it was difficult for members of our team to communicate with victims, as reaching some areas posed a real danger to their lives. Therefore, Euro-Med Monitor formed an alternative plan to cover all areas of its work, through partnerships with local rights organisations and the recruitment of rights defenders and researchers from those areas, as well as other areas in Europe and around the world through its training programmes.
Euro-Med Monitor provides opportunities to train or volunteer under the supervision of legal experts and advisers both inside its offices and remotely, mobilising university students and graduates for periods ranging from 3-4 months (subject to renewal). We aim to familiarise those enrolled in the programme with human rights work, including mechanisms of lobbying, advocacy, documentation, and investigation of violations, and to enable them to employ these skills to defend their rights and the rights of vulnerable groups.
Through our training programmes, we seek to build a new international community that is closely connected to victims and defends the rights of individuals in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
1000
members of the Euro-Med Monitor community, including current and former employees, interns, and volunteers
60
interns accepted into Euro-Med Monitor internship programmes each year
370
interns offered permanent or temporary positions at Euro-Med Monitor
What can participants expect from the programme?
Once enrolled in the programme, interns get the opportunity to work directly with Euro-Med Monitor team members in multiple departments. During the internship period, each intern will move between different departments depending on their academic background and personal interests, and focus on topics such as research, documentation, analysis, lobbying, advocacy, public relations, media, and administration.
The programme aims to give interns the skills necessary to defend human rights in various fields; interns are supervised and directed by the heads of the departments, who provide them with the support needed to develop their skills. Training courses and specialized workshops for interns are also provided as needed.
In addition, interns get the opportunity to participate in sessions of the Human Rights Council, through oral interventions, seminars, and workshops run by the Council, and to meet decision-makers, officials, and experts in United Nations organisations and the European Parliament.
The The internship programme may include tasks requiring travel and transportation between cities or countries to carry out activities and meetings with the Euro-Med Monitor team or its partner organisations, though this is done according to the desire and availability of the intern.
At the end of the program, the intern becomes a member of the Euro-Med Monitor community. With over 1,000 members around the world, the community encourages continued communication between members, and provides necessary support as needed by offering job recommendations, encouragement to carry on with their humanitarian work, and by nominating former interns for jobs within the organisation or its partner organisations.
30%
of Euro-Med Monitor’s field data comes from interns and volunteers all over the world
60%
of Euro-Med Monitor’s interns and volunteers have received international scholarships
85%
of Euro-Med Monitor’s interns continued to work in human rights after the training period
Is the programme paid?
The periodic internship programme is an unpaid programme, but it covers all the costs of the tasks assigned to the inten - if any - such as the costs of transportation, travel, accommodation, field research, documentation, and others.
However, in some cases, symbolic financial rewards may be offered at the end of the internship period to outstanding interns, and those who demonstrate their worthiness for initiative and achievement of the tasks assigned to them.
In exceptional cases, Euro-Med Monitor launches other paid internship opportunities, which are announced on our website and our social media channels, but these opportunities remain separate from the regular internship programme and are subject to different conditions and criteria.
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“At a time when the world is experiencing unprecedented turmoil, suffering, and conflicts, Euro-Med Monitor—as a youth-led organisation—continues to support the true values of humanitarian action and fight for the victims of wars, turbulence, and displacement.”
Martina Fuchs, Euro-Med Monitor’s Media Advisor
Who can join?
All young people interested in defending human rights who meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in the training programme:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 39.
- Be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programme in a field related to human rights work, including international law, human rights, political science, international relations, languages, media, design, translation, or any other relevant major.
- Hold an understanding of international law, human rights principles, and the UN framework.
- Are strongly motivated to assist and support vulnerable groups and their communities.
- Be able to commit to working hard during the training period, as well as to completing assigned tasks in a professional, accurate, and timely manner.
- Speak or have a command of English, Arabic, or French.
If you want to improve your skills in human rights defence and believe you meet the requirements, please apply to join the Euro-Med Monitor team by submitting the application below. Note: only approved or nominated applicants will be contacted, and because of the large number of applicants, candidates are sometimes contacted after several weeks or months.
* Only applicants accepted or nominated for admission will be contacted
* Due to the large number of applicants, successful applicants are sometimes contacted after several weeks or months.