The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission offers the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program, a prestigious semester-length opportunity for students passionate about human rights and foreign policy. Operated by the Democratic staff of the Commission within the U.S. House of Representatives, the programme provides hands-on congressional experience in advancing global human rights advocacy. About the Commission The bipartisan Commission is established under House rules within the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Current Co-Chairs include: James P. McGovern (D-MA) Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) The internship honours Eleanor Roosevelt, who played a defining role in shaping the international human rights framework. She was instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and served as the first U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Programme Overview The internship is open to: Upper-level undergraduate students Graduate students Law students Selected interns work full-time in the Commission’s Democratic staff offices in Washington, D.C., gaining direct exposure to U.S. human rights policy from a congressional perspective. Key Responsibilities Interns provide both administrative and substantive support, including: Conducting human rights research and analysis Drafting background materials, letters, and press releases Taking notes during briefings and meetings Preparing transcripts for public release Maintaining information on prisoners of conscience Supporting logistics and technical coordination for events Updating website and social media content Interns also have opportunities to: Participate in meetings with human rights activists and policy experts Engage with congressional offices Attend professional development events and Capitol Hill trainings Compensation A $1,000 monthly stipend is available to one intern per trimester through the House’s paid internship programme Academic credit may be arranged depending on university requirements The Commission collaborates with institutions to support credit-based participation Requirements & Qualifications Applicants must meet the following criteria: Be upper-level undergraduate, graduate, or law students Demonstrate strong interest in human rights, U.S. foreign policy, and international relations Show interest in public policy and the U.S. Congress Be authorised to work in the United States Be able to work in person in Washington, D.C. Exhibit professionalism, discretion, and maturity Preference is given to students with: Relevant academic backgrounds Prior human rights experience Application Process Applicants must submit one single PDF via email with the subject line:“APPLICATION for Eleanor Roosevelt Internship” The PDF must include: Cover Letter (1 page maximum) Interest in the Commission Relevance to academic/professional goals Relevant experience How the applicant learned about the programme Resume Work history Coursework Academic achievements Awards and honours Writing Sample Maximum 2 pages No more than 500 words Double-spaced Applicant’s original work References 2–3 references Names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses No recommendation letters required Important notes: Applications outside the official periods will not be reviewed Start and end dates are flexible within the internship period Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted No drop-ins or phone calls are accepted Internship Periods & Deadlines Summer (May – August) Application Window: February 1 – 28 Offers Extended: Mid-March Fall (September – December) Application Window: June 1 – 30 Offers Extended: Mid-July Why This Internship Matters The Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program provides: Direct insight into congressional human rights policymaking Professional exposure within the U.S. legislative system Engagement with global human rights advocates Career-building experience in foreign policy and governance By working within the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, interns gain meaningful experience contributing to oversight, advocacy, and public engagement on critical global human rights issues. Students seeking a rigorous and policy-driven human rights internship experience within the U.S. Congress are encouraged to apply during the appropriate application window. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the internship. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.