Are you at the beginning of your career in communications and passionate about human rights? Would you like to gain hands-on communications experience in an international human rights organisation, working with colleagues around the world? Then this internship might be for you.

About the role

As a Communication Intern, you will be part of our Communications and Fundraising team and contribute to our work to raise awareness of human rights issues, strengthen the visibility of Civil Rights Defenders and the human rights defenders we work with, and engage people to take action.

During the internship, you will have the opportunity to work with different areas of communications. Depending on current priorities and your interests and skills, your tasks may include:

• writing and editing articles and other content for our digital channels;

• supporting our social media and content production;

• contributing to media and press activities;

• helping produce digital and printed communication materials;

• supporting campaigns, events and advocacy activities; and

• contributing to the team's day-to-day communications work.

The internship will give you hands-on experience of communications and campaigns in an international human rights organisation. You will also have opportunities to participate in external events, seminars and meetings, as well as internal meetings where you can learn more about our work and the human rights issues we engage in.

We want the internship to be a learning experience. Your tasks will therefore be adapted, where possible, to your skills, interests and development goals. You will have a dedicated supervisor who will support and guide you throughout the internship.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• is currently studying, or has recently completed, a degree in communications, journalism, media production or another relevant field;

• has excellent written and spoken English and Swedish;

• enjoys writing and can adapt content for different audiences and channels;

• has a good understanding of social media and digital communication;

• has some experience working with WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite or video editing;

• has good experience using Microsoft 365.

• is organised, responsible and comfortable working both independently and with others; and

• has a genuine interest in human rights and an interest in the issues Civil Rights Defenders works on.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone curious, eager to learn and motivated to use communication to contribute to the human rights movement.

About the internship

The internship takes place at our head office in Stockholm from January to June 2027 or in accordance with your education plan. Interns are expected to be on-site at the office in Stockholm, with the possibility to work remotely on occasion. The shortest internship period we consider is ten weeks. 

As an organisation, we strive for diversity and see your background, experience and personality as a contribution to the organisation. 

Civil Rights Defenders only accepts interns who have an internship as part of their formal education, being during the study period or in direct connection with completed studies. The internship is full-time and unpaid, with the possibility of compensation for travel expenses.

The last day for application is 15 November 2026. Please apply as soon as possible, as we recruit on an ongoing basis.

For more information about the internship, please contact:

Catrin Söderberg, Communication Director: catrin.soderberg@civilrightsdefenders.org

About us 

Civil Rights Defenders is a politically and religiously independent international human rights organisation. We defend people’s civil and political rights in some of the world’s most repressive regions. We partner with and support human rights defenders in more than 300 organisations in 50 countries on four continents. Together with our partners, we advance human rights and build the capacity of human rights defenders and organisations. We also act as Sweden’s civil rights watchdog.

Civil Rights Defenders has around 70 staff members working in various functions towards our vision - a world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights. Our headquarter is located in Stockholm, and we have eight branch offices around the world. Learn more about our work at crd.org.