Application & Deadlines

Opens
01/09/2026 at 11:00am EST
Closes
02/01/2026 at 11:59pm EST
Apply Here

Overview

This opportunity does NOT count toward the Institute of Politics three application limit.

Amnesty International is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization representing the largest grassroots human rights movement in the world, with more than ten million members, supporters and activists. Amnesty International USA is the global organization’s presence in the United States, and includes members and activists in all 50 states. Amnesty International’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. Amnesty International advocates for global compliance with international human rights law, the development of human rights norms, and the effective enjoyment of human rights by all persons. It monitors state compliance with international human rights law and engages in advocacy, litigation, and education to prevent and end human rights violations and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.
AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) and Advocacy team educates, advises, and lobbies U.S. government (USG) officials on human rights issues around the world. Leveraging Amnesty’s research and grassroots power, GR creates and implements advocacy strategies to push for U.S. government policies and practices to help stop or stop enabling human rights violations by countries and other actors, in addition to ensuring the US is not violating human rights abroad and working to end any direct or indirect USG support that facilitates violations by non-USG actors. We build and maintain close relationships with policymakers in Congress and across the federal government. GR identifies influential stakeholders in the USG, including potential supporters and opponents, and takes advantage of political opportunities to push forward organizational goals. GR works in partnership and in coalition with other organizations and directly with human rights defenders, grassroots organizations or individuals and communities impacted by human rights abuses, including helping them navigate complex advocacy and policy environments to help amplify their calls for justice.

Location & Format

Remote
Industries
Non-Profit / Advocacy / Grassroots
Format
Remote

Eligibility

If selected as a finalist, applicants may be asked to submit the following directly to the Host Organization:

  • Finalists must provide a letter confirming that they are self-funded by the university, scholarship, grant, etc.

Program Details

AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) and Advocacy team educates, advises, and lobbies U.S. government (USG) officials on human rights issues around the world. Leveraging Amnesty’s research and grassroots power, GR creates and implements advocacy strategies to push for U.S. government policies and practices to help stop or stop enabling human rights violations by countries and other actors, in addition to ensuring the US is not violating human rights abroad and working to end any direct or indirect USG support that facilitates violations by non-USG actors. We build and maintain close relationships with policymakers in Congress and across the federal government. GR identifies influential stakeholders in the USG, including potential supporters and opponents, and takes advantage of political opportunities to push forward organizational goals. GR works in partnership and in coalition with other organizations and directly with human rights defenders, grassroots organizations or individuals and communities impacted by human rights abuses, including helping them navigate complex advocacy and policy environments to help amplify their calls for justice. 

Moderate Supervision: Intern will meet with their supervisor regularly but will be given the opportunity to work on independent projects.

Remote position - Interns have the opportunity to work with staff, volunteer leaders, and members in a fast-paced grassroots environment. 

This Director's Internship Host will host additional undergraduate interns outside of the Director's Internship Program.

  • Write research memos, power mapping, and background papers
  • Provide some administrative support for meetings, roundtables, briefings, and special events with members, coalitions, visitors, NGOs, press, and government officials
  • Assist with the background preparation, formatting, copyediting, formatting, and distributing advocacy materials, including letters, briefing papers, op-eds, and other publications
  • Support advocacy director monitor current events and conduct relevant background briefing materials, including monitoring media, congressional hearings and schedules, and high-level USG announcements/travel
  • As needed, attend meetings with partner organizations or coalitions to observe and take notes
  • With guidance from the advocacy director, disseminate AIUSA information to key policy and opinion makers
  • Other duties as assigned 
  • Access to high-speed Wi-Fi
  • Personal laptop
  • Web Camera
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel)

If you have any questions about this opportunity or the Director's Internship Program in General, please reach out to IOP_ICS@hks.harvard.edu