GC Internship Stories
Each year, the Global Campus of Human Rights provides support to a group of alumni from various programmes who undertake internships in various human rights institutions.
The GC Internship Programme is designed for top recent graduates from the GC’s regional programmes, and here are some stories of alumni who took part.
You can always visit LinkedIn and search for #gcinternshipstories to explore directly. There you will see the posts in a random order.
Giwoong Son
Global Campus Alumni
Giwoong Son, alumnus of GC Asia-Pacific, interned with the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia (S2SR SEA) programme. The programme promotes safe and decent work for migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sector in South-East Asia.
Giwoong supported the processing of report publications, updated the website monthly, assisted in project proposal preparations, and copy-edited reports and studies. He also prepared materials for workshops and meetings, managed inventory lists, and conducted research to update migration policies.
According to his supervisor, “Giwoong’s strong writing skills were put to good use. He efficiently prioritised tasks, engaged with co-workers, and provided significant contributions to our reports and publications.”
Giwoong recommends this internship to those interested in advocating for migrant workers’ rights. “The internship provided extensive and practical experience in labour migration governance. The tasks, such as drafting reports and participating in meetings, were aligned with my career goals.”
Well done, Giwoong, for your contributions to a major human rights issue!
Rony Rosales
Global Campus Alumni
Rony Rosales Losseley, alumnus of GC Latin America, interned with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica. The court’s mission is to uphold and promote human rights across the Americas.
Rony developed research papers on legal issues, prepared short legal opinions, and reviewed texts. His tasks included supporting hearings, drafting memoranda, and contributing to promotional activities.
Well done, Rony, for your contributions and hard work!
Ahmed Al Aydi
Global Campus Alumni
Ahmed Al Aydi, alumnus of GC Arab World, interned with Broederlijk Delen in Brussels, focusing on policy advocacy related to Palestine and Israel. Ahmed contributed to advocacy efforts amid increased aggression in Gaza, providing key updates to the organisation’s partners in Gaza and drafting advocacy materials, policy briefs, and articles.
Reflecting on the experience, Ahmed says: “It was a great opportunity where I learned a lot, especially in a field where I can advocate for the human rights of Palestinians.”
Excellent work, Ahmed!
The GC Internship Programme is designed for top recent graduates from the GC’s regional programmes.
Andrea Veronica Cruz Rojas
Global Campus Alumni
Andrea Veronica Cruz Rojas, alumna of GC Europe (EMA), recently interned with UNESCO in Paris, France, within the Inclusion, Rights, and Dialogue Section of the Social and Human Sciences Sector.
During her internship, Andrea worked on various projects, including assisting in the launch of the 2nd monitoring cycle of the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers and organising events such as the World Press Freedom Day 2024 session on the freedom of expression of scientists, journalists, and artists. She also contributed to the Programme on the Freedom and Safety of Scientists and reviewed publications on the right to science and sustainable development goals.
Andrea highly recommends this internship to those eager to develop key skills in international diplomacy and human rights. We congratulate Andrea on her new contract with UNESCO’s field office!
Federica Pavia
Global Campus Alumni
Federica Pavia, alumna of GC Europe, interned with Terre des Hommes International Federation in Brussels, Belgium, where she contributed significantly to advocacy and communications work focusing on children’s rights. During her internship, Federica played a key role in promoting children’s right to a healthy environment, supporting the #VoteforChildren Campaign at the EU Parliament, and facilitating child participation in international forums.
Federica was actively involved in developing social media content, drafting letters and reports, and coordinating advocacy efforts across multiple platforms.
Reflecting on her experience, Federica said, “This internship provided valuable insights into advocacy and children’s rights and allowed me to develop a wide range of skills in a dynamic international setting.”
Well done, Federica, for your dedication and impactful contributions!
Walter Vela
Global Campus Alumni
Walter Vela, alumnus of GC Latin America, interned with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica. Walter contributed to legal research, drafted opinions, and assisted in hearings related to human rights cases across Latin America, including García y familiares vs. Guatemala and Vega González y otros vs. Chile.
His supervisor commended his dedication and valuable contributions to the court’s work.
For Walter, “The internship was a fantastic opportunity to engage in important human rights work while learning from experienced professionals. It was a life-changing experience, both professionally and personally.”
Great job, Walter, for your dedication to such a crucial cause as the forcibly disappeared!
The GC Internship Programme is designed for top recent graduates from the GC’s regional programmes.
Dharmendra Bahadur Dhami
Global Campus Alumni
Dharmendra Bahadur Dhami, alumnus of GC Asia-Pacific, interned with the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) in the Philippines. His role involved research and policy work on human rights, including a proposal for the Strengthening Women’s Movement Program and background papers on women, peace, and security. Dharmendra also contributed to discussions on LGBTQIA+ rights in ASEAN and reviewed corporate policies on environmental and child rights.
Reflecting on his experience, Dharmendra said, “This internship allowed me to apply my theoretical knowledge while building strong networks with human rights professionals.”
Great job, Dharmendra!
The GC Internship Programme is designed for top recent graduates from the GC’s regional programmes.
Alumnus of GC Asia-Pacific
Global Campus Alumni
An alumnus of GC Asia-Pacific (whose name is kept anonymous for safety reasons) interned with a civic engagement organisation in Central Asia. During the internship, he worked on legal advocacy projects, particularly focusing on the implications of new foreign agent laws and supporting civil society organisations through training and strategy development. He was also involved in research on human trafficking and migration in the region, contributing to monitoring and evaluation efforts.
The alumnus’ supervisor praised his research skills and dedication: “The intern demonstrated strong commitment and adaptability, providing valuable research and strategic contributions to our programmes.”
Well done for your impactful contributions!
Reem Abdelmagied
Global Campus Alumni
Reem Abdelmagied, alumna of GC Arab World, interned at a national committee in Egypt that combats illegal migration and human trafficking. During her internship, Reem played a key role in drafting the National Action Plan (2024–2026), collaborating with 30 national stakeholders to align their inputs with current migration challenges. She also participated in high-level meetings and workshops with organisations like UNICEF and IOM, contributing to project development and drafting formal correspondence.
Her supervisor commended Reem’s dedication, strong organisational skills, and her ability to manage multiple tasks despite challenging circumstances.
Great work, Reem!
Maria Agustina Petrone
Global Campus Alumni
Maria Agustina Petrone, alumna of GC Europe (EMA), recently interned with Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office (EIO) in Brussels. Her work primarily focused on Migration and Asylum and Human Rights in the EU.
During her internship, Maria contributed to high-level meetings with EU representatives, wrote statements and press releases, and closely followed the adoption of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. She also organised a workshop for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), coordinating with over 15 civil society organisations and 22 HRDs from across Europe.
Well done, Maria, for your dedication and impactful contributions!
Lamija Kovačević
Global Campus Alumni
Lamija Kovačević, alumna of GC South East Europe, interned with the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. During her internship, Lamija contributed to organising EU integration induction sessions, coordinating senior EU visits, and drafting briefing notes and reports. She also worked closely on civil society outreach projects and supported human rights advocacy efforts.
Lamija highly recommends this internship for those looking to deepen their understanding of EU integration and diplomacy in an engaging environment.
Clarisse Fagard
Global Campus Alumni
Clarisse Fagard, alumna of GC Europe, interned with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in Brussels, Belgium. During her internship, Clarisse worked on the Global Torture Index and with the human rights coordinator for Afghanistan. She contributed to revising a standardised research questionnaire for the Torture Index and played a pivotal role in organising a psychosocial support workshop for Afghan human rights defenders in exile, co-facilitating the sessions
Reflecting on her experience, Clarisse shared, “This internship allowed me to explore different areas of human rights work, from fighting torture to supporting human rights defenders. It was an invaluable learning opportunity.”
Excellent work, Clarisse, for your impactful contributions!
Meron Eshetu
Global Campus Alumni
Meron Eshetu Birhanu, alumna of GC Africa, interned with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). ACHPR’s mission is the legal protection and promotion of human rights across Africa. Meron worked closely with her supervisor on various legal assignments.
“We focused on legal research and drafting within the context of human rights violations. Throughout my internship, I prepared communications on case merits and admissibility, and drafted resolutions and urgent appeals. These experiences resulted in critical documents that were considered and adopted during the 79th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR.”
Meron recommends this internship to alumni eager to advance their legal research and analytical skills: “Initially, the breadth of responsibilities seemed overwhelming, but my supervisor was incredibly supportive and helped me navigate complex tasks.”
Great job, Meron, on the significant impact you made during this challenging internship!
Waris Asmal
Global Campus Alumni
Waris Asmal, alumnus of GC Africa, interned at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania. During his internship, Waris worked closely with the legal department, attending meetings, drafting legal documents, and contributing to judgment deliberations. He also assisted in preparing for public hearings and drafted press releases and judgment summaries.
Great job, Waris!