The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. The Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

USCIRF offers the following types of internships:

• Communications
• Government Relations
• Policy: Legal Research
• Policy: Regional Policy Analysis (Africa; East Asia; Europe and Central Asia; Middle East; South Asia)

General Information on USCIRF Internships

• Currently enrolled students are eligible for internships with USCIRF.
• All USCIRF internships are paid; course credit may be available.
• USCIRF does not provide housing or moving expenses.
• Internships can be full-time (40 hours a week) or part-time (20-30 hours a week) for a minimum of 8 weeks, but not to exceed 16 weeks.

General Eligibility Requirements (applicable to all USCIRF internships)

• U.S. citizenship
• Currently enrolled undergraduates (sophomores, juniors and seniors) and graduate students (including JD and LLM candidates)
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Successful completion of a background check

Application Deadlines

Internships are available year-round, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, given the number of applications received, the following are recommended application deadlines:

Fall Semester: September – December
Application Deadline: July 1

Spring Semester: January – April
Application Deadline: November 1

Summer Semester: May – August
Application Deadline: March 1

Application Requirements

• Cover letter explaining your qualifications and why you would you like to intern at USCIRF
• Resume
• 3-5 page writing sample
• 2-3 letters of reference

E-mail, fax, or mail your application materials to:

Internship Program

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
732 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite A714
Washington, DC 20401
202-523-3240 (phone)

202-523-5020 (fax)

internship@uscirf.gov

Please specify the internship and semester you are applying for in your cover letter and the subject line of an e-mailed application.

Available Internships

Communications Intern

• Maintain and expand database of media, NGO, think tank, academia, and religious contacts
• Post on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook
• Help update website
• Help prepare materials for distribution to the public and press, including press releases, policy briefs, newsletters, and reports
• Create daily press clips for distribution
• Help organize and provide logistical support for events such as press conferences, public hearings, and speaking engagements
• Provide general administrative support as needed

Eligible candidates should have:

• experience with Social Media such as Twitter and Facebook;
• knowledge of Adobe InDesign and other publishing programs;
• excellent writing, editing, and organizational skills;
• an interest in human rights and foreign policy;
• ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and as part of a team;
• a willingness to perform administrative tasks.

Government Relations Intern

• Track foreign policystatements, religious freedom, human rights and related legislation, and relevant policy publications
• Attendand report on Congressional hearings
• Review relevant government agency websites and publications daily
• Research positions and actions taken by Members of Congress and Congressional committees and organizations
• Undertake other research as needed
• Provide general administrative support as needed

Eligible candidates should have:

• excellent writing and comprehension skills;
• a passion for foreign policy and human rights;
• ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and as part of a team;
• a willingness to perform administrative tasks;
• familiarity with the full Microsoft Office suite (Excel and Word in particular).

Policy Department: Legal Research Intern (open to current 2L, 3L, and LLM students)

• Conduct research on a variety ofinternational human rights and comparative law topics, as assigned

Eligible candidates are:

• law students with coursework or experience in constitutional law, international affairs, human rights, religious affairs, or a related field;
• familiar with legal research techniques and the full Microsoft Office suite;
• interested in the field of international human rights.

Fluency in a foreign language is preferred, but not required.

Policy Department: Regional Policy Analysis Intern

• Research a variety of international religious freedom and human rights issues, with a focus in one or more of the following world regions:
• Africa
• East Asia
• Europe and Central Asia
• Middle East
• South Asia

(Specify what region you are applying for in your cover letter and the subject line of an e-mailed application.)

• Assist with preparations for meetings, roundtables, Commission travel, and other events
• Attend meetings at USCIRF with international visitors and other groups interested in USCIRF’s work
• Attend and report on public hearings and other events in the DC area on issues relevant to USCIRF’s work
• Provide general administrative support as needed

Eligible candidates:

• possess demonstrable knowledge, including academic background, of a particular world region;
• have completed coursework (or have experience) in public policy, international affairs, political science, human rights, religious affairs, government affairs, or a related field;
• are willing to perform administrative tasks;
• are familiar with the full Microsoft Office suite (knowledge of Microsoft Access is preferred, but not required).

Fluency in a foreign language (particularly Mandarin Chinese, Russian, or Arabic) is preferred, but not required.

internship@uscirf.gov