Frank C. Newman Internship Program
The Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Internship Program accredits law students, through Human Rights Advocates, to attend sessions of United Nations bodies and to make oral and written statements at these bodies. The program continues the work of the late Professor Newman who led many delegations of law students to UN sessions and encourages a generation of young human rights lawyers to ensure the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world.
Students may research and write on a particular area of concern, or work directly with another HRA member on a topic HRA is currently involved with. Research and writing will be done for submission to the United Nations and for publication in HRA's newsletter.
Students attending a United Nations meeting are expected to assist HRA representatives, which may include work on other issues, and to attend HRA briefing sessions in the Bay Area and at the site of the UN meeting.
Students will be asked to report back to the HRA Board, and to participate in educational forums open to the public.
Human Rights Advocates
HRA is a California non-profit that provides education about the application of international human rights law in both domestic and international fora. The organization's ultimate objective is to advance the cause of human rights so that basic protections are afforded all individuals.
Human Rights Advocates has Consultative Status, Category II, with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Participants and Work Required
Participants will be full-time law students at a Bay Area law school. They must be in good standing and obtain permission of their Academic Dean or law professor. It is preferred that students have taken at least one course in International Law, and have a basic understanding of the structure of the United Nations and of the work of the Commission or Committee they wish to attend.
Participants who intend to present their work at a UN session must join HRA ($15 dues for one year) and agree to and sign the HRA accreditation policy, covering lobbying at United Nations meetings.
Work Required
Participants are required to research and write on a specific concern that is currently, or should be, addresses by the United Nations. Topics can be of the student's own choosing, or work can be done with another HRA member. Papers may be written from research and writing from current course work. All materials prepared for the UN session are to be copyrighted by HRA, and are not to be submitted for publication elsewhere without the permission of the HRA Board.
Students will work with one or more HRA Board members during the preparation of materials. All written and oral materials must be approved by the HRA Board prior to submission to the United Nations. Guidelines and formats for the papers are available from HRA.
Students may be asked to present their topic at an HRA education meeting in the Bay Area open to the public, and may be asked to join other panels where appropriate.
Students are required to attend a briefing session in the Bay Area prior to going to a UN meeting, and to attend HRA meetings held during the UN session. Students are also required to have a solid understanding of the work of the UN, and of the specific meeting they will attend. This may entail additional reading.
Academic credit for participation in the program is not required by HRA, and must be arranged separately with the student's school.
United Nations Meetings
HRA can accredit students to a number of UN sessions open to non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the UN. It is anticipated that students will attend sessions of the Human Rights Commission and its SubCommission, held in Geneva in March-April and August, respectively. HRA has accredited students to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and to the Beijing Conference on Women and the Conference on Racism in Durban South Africa.
Although the goal of the Frank C. Newman Program is to give students an opportunity to work within the United Nations, participation in the program does not require attendance at a UN meeting, and students are welcome to prepare written material to be submitted by another HRA member.
Cost
Students are expected to secure their own funding for attending the UN meeting. Some participating law schools have scholarships available. HRA does have limited funds available for the printing of papers and interventions, and may award interns a stipend for travel.
Topics
Interns have recently worked on the following issues: Trafficking in Women, the Juvenile Death Penalty, Illicit Transfer of Toxics, Migrant Workers, and Children and the Environment.
For further information on participating in the Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Internship Program, please contact Anne Wagley at wagley@humanrightsadvocates.org