What Can I Do With a Human Rights Degree?

• Advocate/Activist (NGOs, HRW, UN, etc.)
  Coordinate, lead, and support advocacy efforts. Liaison within the NGO network and between the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Provide information and feedback from state actions at the HRC.
  
  
• Director/Coordinator (Foundations, Campaigns, etc.)
  Establish work plans, allocate resources, identify and work with funders, report budgeting, and assess staff performance. Educate and mobilize membership. Liaison with HQs and other departments and units. Report to UN meetings with information on HR activities. Advise representatives based on HR reports.
  
  
• Officer (HRO)/Advisor/Specialist
  Research and collect information to maintain awareness of HR issues and events. Collaborate with UN and NGOs. Support activities by UN missions. Participate in discussions with other HROs with the aim of stopping and preventing HR violations. Liaison with NGOs, UN, and governments to develop baseline data on the HR situation. Design and implement HR programs. Plan, review, monitor and evaluate activities. Supervise entry of HR cases, delivery of statistics and trend reports, and production of reports.
  
  
• Administrator /Associate
  Provide administrative and clerical assistance. Coordinate conferences and leadership training. Oversee office interns. Maintain bookkeeping, activist database, and volunteer contact list. Respond to volunteers, members, and the public. Prepare, format, and distribute documents. Liaison with departments, domestic and international offices, etc.
  
  
• Researcher
  Monitor, investigate, and document ongoing human rights developments. Maintain working relationships with local, regional, and international HR activists, journalists, diplomats, etc. Conduct fact-finding investigations, and devise and implement innovative research strategies when in-country fact finding is not possible. Write detailed reports, briefing memos, press releases, articles, and government letters. Develop local and international advocacy strategies to influence the HR policies of governments. Create and maintain partnerships with NGOs. Respond to queries from the press, the public, and colleagues.

There are also many volunteer and non-profit organizations that accept applications from volunteers available for periods of six months, one year, two years, or more.