The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is the U.N. agency charged with protecting and assisting the world’s refugees and finding long-term solutions to their problems. Currently, UNHCR is responsible for 18 million people. This includes 4-8 million refugees; the others include internally displaced people, and person in refugee-like situations, asylum seekers, stateless people, and resettled refugees.

UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Washington, DC UNHCR’s Washington Office opened in 1979. Since 1997 it is a regional office covering the U.S., the Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts. & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

Public Information Internship

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

? Monitor media coverage of refugee, immigration and international relations issues. Distribute relevant articles to key UNHCR staff. Assist with media outreach and events. ? Collect information and draft replies to queries on refugee situations and UNHCR programs from the media, general public, schools and universities. ? Assist in UNHCR’s educational outreach program to teachers and educators throughout the US, and other public awareness activities. ? Administrative duties, such as organization of events, database management, and stocking and mailing public information materials, may constitute 50% of the intern’s workload depending on ongoing activities in the department.

External Relations Internship Duties and Responsibilities Include:

? Monitor Congressional activities regarding refugees, asylum seekers and overseas assistance. Attend relevant hearings and prepare summaries of content. ? Attend refugee briefings by NGOs and think tanks and prepare summaries of content. ? Research and respond to information requests from the US government and NGOs. ? Prepare informational memos for briefings and meetings for senior UNHCR staff. ? Administrative duties, such as organization of events and database management, may constitute 50% of the intern’s workload depending on ongoing activities in the department.

Qualifications and Experience: It is essential that interns possess a superior command of English with excellent written and oral communication skills. Word processing, database and internet computer skills, knowledge of international affairs, refugee situations and foreign languages are highly desirable.

Duration: Both full and part time internships are available, with a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Upcoming Deadline for Applications: Fall Semester: July 31 (Internship starts early September) Spring Semester: November 15 (Internship starts early January) Summer Semester: March 15 (Internship starts in May) Applications: Applications must be complete or they will not be considered. Please send resume, cover letter and brief writing sample and dates of availability to either the External Relations Intern Coordinator or the Public Information Intern Coordinator, UNHCR, 1775 K St., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006, Fax: 202-296-5660, Email: USAWA@unhcr.org

Contact e-mail: USAWA@unhcr.org