Student Fellowship in Human Rights (Remote) - Amnesty International - Strategic Litigation Unit

Applications for 2025 have now closed.

The Bonavero Institute Summer Fellowship at Amnesty International Strategic Litigation Unit, is an eight-week remote internship, tenable from early July to late September 2024.

About Amnesty International Strategic Litigation Unit

Founded in 1961, Amnesty International is an international non-governmental human rights organisation and a movement of over 10 million members, activists and supporters in more than 150 countries and territories. It is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest, or religion. Amnesty International’s mission is to advocate for global compliance with international human rights law, the development of human rights norms, and the effective enjoyment of human rights by all persons. To do so, Amnesty International monitors state compliance with international human rights law and engages in research, advocacy, strategic litigation, and education to prevent and end human rights violations and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. 


Amnesty International has been undertaking strategic litigation since at least 1987. Over the last 38 years, the movement has built a solid reputation for successfully litigating landmark cases across a range of international, regional and domestic courts and quasi-judicial bodies. The Strategic Litigation Unit within Amnesty International's International Secretariat directs, advises on, coordinates and supports legal work to develop strategic litigation and pursue ongoing proceedings which are designed to advance the clarification, respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights around the globe.  Amnesty International pursues litigation that is “strategic” when it is consciously designed to advance the clarification, respect, protection and fulfilment of rights. Such strategic litigation seeks to change laws, policies and practice; to secure remedies or relief following rights violations, and sometimes it is also about raising public awareness of an injustice.

Amnesty International’s Strategic Litigation Unit’s recent work conducted in collaboration and partnership with internal global, regional and national teams includes:

  1. Petitioning the International Criminal Court judges to end the Prosecutor’s delaying of justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Nigeria.
  2. Joining a coalition of non-governmental organisations to file a lawsuit against the Dutch state for their involvement in the ‘EU-Turkey statement’ which had dire human rights consequences for asylum-seekers.
  3. Jointly intervening as a friend of the Court (amicus curiae) in an unprecedented class action lawsuit brought by a group of Zambian children and women against the mining giant Anglo American in South Africa for alleged lead-poisoning.
  4. Submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the climate emergency and human rights.
  5.  Filing an amicus curiae brief at the Bangkok Civil Court in Thailand in support of a rightsholder whose phone was infected with Pegasus spyware.
  6. Jointly supporting the submission of complaint by a whistleblower to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asking the agency to investigate Meta for alleged violations of securities laws.

About the Fellowship

The Legal fellow within the Strategic Litigation Unit at Amnesty International will experience various aspects of working on cases that are aimed at promoting the realisation and enjoyment of human rights. Some of these tasks include:

  • Assisting in the development of litigation strategies.
  • Conducting legal research to support strategic litigation at national, regional, and international level.
  • Drafting and reviewing pleadings and legal submissions to be filed in national, domestic, and international Courts and quasi-judicial bodies.
  • Attending court hearings and producing watch-and-briefs.
  • Summarizing court decisions of Amnesty’s cases and other key cases identified.
  • Assisting with the evaluation of the outcomes and impacts of Amnesty International’s litigation efforts.
  • Assisting with coordinating meetings of the Strategic Litigation Committee where cases are considered and approved and taking minutes.
  • Regularly updating the internal case management database.

About the Bonavero Fellowship at Amnesty International Strategic Litigation Unit - Please note that this Fellowship will be remotely based.

The successful candidate will receive an award to assist with travel, accommodation, living, and other reasonable expenses associated with the internship. In determining the amount to be awarded, other sources of funding will be taken into account.

The candidate will also be expected to provide a full report on their work at the end of their internship.

Please refer to the overview page referring specifically to the application process and eligibility criteria.

This Fellowship is made possible by generous gifts from the AB Charitable Trust and Eric Lewis.

 

 

 

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