Deadline: February 28, 2026
Applications are open for the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program 2026. The Democratic staff of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives operates a program of three semester-length, full-time internships per year. The Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program is available to enthusiastic upper-level undergraduate, graduate or law students interested in human rights and foreign policy to work as interns in the Commission’s Democratic staff offices.
The bipartisan Commission is established by House rules under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The current Democratic Co-chair is Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and the current Republican Co-chair is Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ). The Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program has been established to honor the leadership role that the former First Lady played in creating the international human rights system. She played an instrumental role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and served as the first United States Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, a position now listed as United States Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Internships with the Commission provide an opportunity to gain knowledge about U.S. human rights policy from a congressional perspective. Interns provide administrative and substantive support for the activities of the Commission, including Congressional briefings and hearings on pressing human rights issues around the world. Assignments may include conducting human rights research and analysis; drafting background materials, letters and press releases; taking notes in briefings and meetings; preparing transcripts for public release; maintaining information on prisoners of conscience; providing logistical and technical support for Commission events; and updating the Commission website and social media accounts, among other tasks. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in meetings with human rights activists, foreign policy analysts and other congressional offices. They will also have the opportunity to attend trainings and professional development opportunities on Capitol Hill.
Benefits
- The Democratic staff of the Commission is able to offer a $1,000 per month stipend to one intern per trimester through the House’s paid internship program. The Commission is willing to work with academic institutions to ensure that students can receive academic credit for their internship, depending on the requirements of the university.
Eligibility
- Open to upper-level undergraduate, graduate or law students. Preference to those with degrees in relevant fields.
- Demonstrated interest in human rights in U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Prior experience in the human rights field is a plus.
- Demonstrated interest in public policy, the U.S. Congress and government.
- Authorization to work in the United States.
- Interns are expected to display professionalism, maturity, and discretion while working with the Commission and interacting with other offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
- Applicants must be able to work in-person from the Democratic offices of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington, D.C.
Application
To apply, submit the following in a single PDF via email to [email protected] with “APPLICATION for Eleanor Roosevelt Internship” in the subject line. Specify the trimester for which you are applying in the body of your email.
- Cover letter: Discuss your interest in the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and how it would serve your academic and professional goals and interests; How your academic, professional or personal experience would be useful to the Commission in carrying out its mandate; and how you heard about this internship program. Should not exceed one page.
- Resume: Relevant work history, coursework, educational achievements, honors/awards received.
- Writing sample: A writing sample (in English) of no more than two pages and no more than 500 words (double-spaced). It must be your own work and can be an excerpt of a longer piece.
- References: Names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses of 2-3 references. Do not include recommendation letters.
For more information, visit Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship.
