CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE ICTR INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

PLEASE NOTE: The Internship Programme at the ICTR is in no way

related to recruitment for regular employment at UN Offices and there

should be no expectancy of such recruitment. Interns wishing to be

considered for employment with ICTR, even if otherwise fully qualified,

are not eligible for employment either during internship or within the

six months period immediately following the expiration of the

internship. Any employment would, in any case, be subject to

competition.

INTRODUCTION

The present administrative instruction contains the rules governing the internship

Programme of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The Programme has the

dual function of training young professionals and providing expertise to the ICTR.

PURPOSE

1. The Internship Programme is geared towards providing offices at the ICTR with the

assistance of students and professionals specializing in fields relevant to the work of the

Tribunal, such as international relations, law, economics, political science, philosophy,

journalism, translation and terminology. The purpose of the Programme is:

1.1 To provide the participants with important practical experience which compliments

their field of study and which will, at the same time, be of benefit to the office to which the

intern is assigned;

1.2 To promote, among participants, a better understanding of major global problems

confronting the world and to give them an insight into how the ICTR attempts to find

solutions to the problems, and

1.3 To expose the participants to the ICTR and its policies and programmes and have

them become ambassadors of good will.

2. OVERALL FORMAT OF THE PROGRAMME

ICTR accepts interns on a limited basis depending on the specific needs of work units at

the ICTR, Arusha / Kigali / the Hague, and their capacity to effectively support and

supervise the interns and subject also to availability of office space. The programme does

not consist of clearly defined internship positions, rather, the ICTR will define the

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number and nature of internships, on a continuous basis, according to the needs of the

various offices; the selection and recruitment procedure will, consequently, be on an

ongoing basis and each intern will carry out his or her assignments under the supervision

of a designated staff member of the ICTR.

3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

3.1 Applicants should be currently enrolled in a graduate (Masters or equivalent) or

post-graduate (PhD) programme.

3.2 Applicants pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided

into undergraduate and graduate stages should have completed at least three years of

university studies.

3.3 Applications must be endorsed by their educational institution.

3.4 Applicants are expected to be at an early stage of their career, holders of public office

or expecting to hold public office.

3.5 Applicants must state clearly and precisely their particular field of interest and/or

submit a topic for a thesis or paper on international humanitarian law/human

rights/international criminal law/comparative law/ international law.

3.6 Applicants must be proficient in English and/or French. Knowledge of Swahili and/or

Kinyarwanda would be an asset.

3.7 Applicants in Diploma Programmes or at educational institutions in technical areas

such as Law or Journalism who require an attachment in order to complete their

educational requirements will also be considered.

4. SELECTION PROCEDURE

4.1 Upon receipt, the application will be forwarded to the Internship Coordinator for

evaluation and grading. If successful, the applicant will be notified by the quickest means

available of this fact. If not successful, the applicant will also be notified of this fact as soon

as possible. However, the applicant is not barred from reapplying should they so wish.

Rather, qualified applicants who are not accepted immediately are placed on a roster to be

notified as and when places of placement are available

4.2 Participants in the Internship Programme are selected from among participants who

are sponsored and/or nominated by an educational institution or organisation (Part II of

the Application Form).

4.3 Preference will be given to applicants holding a university degree in law, political

science, philosophy, or any good university degree who are interested in pursuing a career

in the field of international humanitarian law/human rights/international criminal

law/comparative law/international law, and who are proficient in English and/or French.

4.4 Participants in the Internship Programme will be selected from among applicants

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who are able to work at the ICTR for at least three months.

4.5 Acceptance of interns is subject to confirmation by the receiving office and the

availability of office space. Due to the large number of interns who may be on attachment

at any given time, sometimes as many as forty (40), interns are encouraged to bring their

own lap tops

4.6 The substantive office will select a Senior Professional to be responsible for the

intern’s supervision, who will ensure that the exit report is prepared and an exit

questionnaire completed by the intern, which are subsequently discussed and signed

before they are submitted to the Personnel Section at the end of the internship. Offices

accepting interns should make all necessary physical support provisions to enable the

intern to undertake the designated activities effectively, including office space, office

equipment and supplies as well as computer/LAN access to the degree required. It should

be noted that limitations on space and other elements of physical support have to be fully

considered by each work unit before confirming an internship, as they typically represent

areas of shortage and can create major obstacles to successful completion of productive

internships and a factor taken into consideration when determining the number of

interns to be accepted at a given time.

4.7 Internship candidates having a family relationship with a staff member will not be

permitted to work in the same unit as the family member; however, they will be

considered in accordance with the Internship Policy.

5. CONDITIONS OF INTERNSHIP

5.1 Interns receive no remuneration. Cost of travel and accommodation, as well as living

expenses, are the responsibility of interns and/or their sponsoring institution.

5.2 Interns are solely responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging their

travel to Arusha (Tanzania) or Kigali (Rwanda), as appropriate.

5.3 The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or

illness that may occur during the internship. Accordingly, the intern has to have his/her

own medical and life insurance coverage.

5.4 While working at the ICTR, interns are not considered in any respect as officials or

staff members of the United Nations. However, they are expected to work full-time, like

regular staff members, and to carry out the duties assigned to them and are bound by the

same obligations as regular staff members. Interns must, in particular, keep confidential

any and all unpublished information made known to them during the course of their

internship and should not publish any reports or papers on the basis of information

obtained, except with the authorisation of the United Nation. In this connection, an

acceptance and undertaking form must be signed by each intern (Annex C).

5.5 There is no expectancy of employment by the United Nations at the end of the

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internship and the intern cannot apply for a regular position in the ICTR during the

period of the internship or six months immediately following the expiration of the date

thereof.

6 COMMENCEMENT

Interns can begin their internship only after they have agreed to the terms and conditions

governing internships in the United Nations, by signing the Acceptance and Undertaking

(Annex C).

7. ARRIVAL

Upon arrival, the intern is to report to Ms. Felicia Madigane, Internship Assistant (Room

K-322, ext. 5326), where the intern will undergo a briefing and complete arrangements

necessary for the issuance of a grounds pass, etc as well as confirmation of the Section

he/she will be assigned to. At the end of the internship, the intern is to provide a copy of

his/her internship report to Ms. Madigane.

8. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

Interns are not staff members and are, therefore, not entitled to privileges and immunities

extended by the Host country to staff members of the ICTR.

9. SECURITY

ICTR has no obligation to include interns in the ICTR/UN security plan and they are

urged to register with their national embassies or High Commissions, which will cover

them.

10. ACCESS TO TRAINING ACTIVITY

Interns, on a space available basis, will be permitted to attend training courses upon

approval by the Training Officer, Personnel Section.

11. OBLIGATIONS OF INTERNS

Interns agree to undertake the following obligations:

11.1 Conduct himself or herself at all times in a manner compatible with the

responsibilities of a holder of an internship with the United Nations and, therefore, in

accordance with the standards of conduct of international civil servants. The Tribunal

reserves the right to terminate the internship of any individual who does not meet the

standards.

11.2 Arrange for his or her own transport to and from the ICTR office,

Arusha/Kigali/the Hague, as transport will not be provided.

11.3 Provide notice to the supervisor and Personnel Section in case of absence, due

to illness or other unavoidable circumstance that might prevent the intern from fulfilling

his or her obligations. Failure to do so may result in termination of the internship.

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11.4 Keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the

course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers based on such information

except with the explicit authorization of the ICTR. This obligation shall not cease upon

departure from the ICTR.

11.5 At the end of the internship, the intern will complete a report on his or her

assignment to be included in his or her file with the ICTR. A copy will be forwarded to the

sponsoring institution or organisation.

11.6 Conduct an exit interview with the Supervisor in which the performance report

will be discussed and thereafter forwarded to the sponsoring institution, office of the

Internship Coordinator and Personnel Section.

11.7 Complete exit procedures at the end of the assignment and submit it to the

office of the Internship Coordinator.

11.8 Settle all outstanding financial obligations and surrender grounds pass to the

Security Office upon expiration of the internship.

12. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE

Upon completion of the Internship Programme, a Certificate will be given to the

candidate acknowledging his or her contribution during the internship period with ICTR.

13. ADMINISTRATION

The Personnel Section accepts and processes the applications of internship candidates.

Offices receiving requests / applications for internships should, therefore, forward the

necessary documentation to either Ms Felicia Madigane, Internship Assistant, Office No.

K-322 Ext 5326. Internship application forms are also available on the ICTR website.

14. It is encouraged that internships be coordinated with academic institutions and the

establishment of ongoing partnerships between the ICTR Arusha/Kigali and academic

institutions sought. Individual offices may identify educational institutions with which

ongoing partnerships might be established. While informal arrangements can be

discussed directly between the work unit and academic institution, the terms of any

formal agreement entailing specific commitments by the ICTR as regards the Internship

Programme must be cleared by the Internship Coordinator.

15. The above stipulation does not rule out the possibility of an individual internship

candidate, with specific interest in a particular substantive area, from applying.

16. DURATION

The Internship Programme usually consists of a period of not less than two months to a

period not exceeding six months. In exceptional cases, internships may be shorter or may

be extended upon a written request from the Unit/office concerned. In order that the

related administration can be streamlined and a proper orientation and induction held,

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the Internship Programme will follow established intake dates for incoming interns;

therefore, in principle, all interns will have one of three start dates on which to begin their

internship.

17. MEDICAL EXAM AND HEALTH

The ICTR accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness that

may occur during the internship. Therefore, interns are required to bear all costs of

medical and life insurance coverage during the internship and candidates will be asked to

provide proof of valid regular as well as major medical insurance coverage on the

application form. The intern will also be asked to sign a waiver as in Annex D, indicating

that he or she will bear all costs arising from accident or illness that may occur during the

internship.

18. APPLICATIONS

Candidates who are interested in applying for the Internship Programme at ICTR should

submit a duly completed application form (Annex A), addressed to Internship

Coordinator and accompanied by a covering letter stating the reasons for applying, as well

as at least two written references which address the issues detailed in Annex B. The

following documents should accompany the application form:

• Copy of most recent university transcript

• A sample of research/course work relevant to the preferred assignment area

prepared in English or French

• An official endorsement from the student’s educational institution (official

stamp on application form and letter).

19. Only applicants who have submitted all necessary material will be considered. Any

previous correspondence with the ICTR will not be taken into consideration during the

selection process, and only those accepted, as interns by the substantive office will receive

acknowledgment.

20. The deadline for receipt of applications is three months before the intended period of

internship. Application forms should be submitted to:

The Internship Coordinator

UNICTR

P.O. Box 6016

Arusha

Tanzania

(Attention: Ms Felicia Madigane)

Tel: (+1) (212) 963 2850

(+255) (27) 250 4367-72 or 250 4207-11

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Fax: (+1) (212) 963 2848 / 49