5 Human Rights Internship Programs in Palestine 2026-2027: Human rights are fundamental rights that people have purely on the basis that they are human. No matter someone’s class status, identity, or circumstances, everyone is deserving of these rights, and no one deserves to be oppressed, exploited, abused, or have their dignity and human rights violated or taken away. Unfortunately, the reality of the world we live in is very different, and countless human rights abuses occur around the world daily. This means that there is much-needed work to be done in the field of human rights to improve the quality of life of millions of people around the world.
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The Importance Of Human Rights Internship Programs
Human rights programs play a crucial role in supporting the vital work of learning about and upholding human rights worldwide. To solve or improve any problem, it is necessary first to understand the situation. Human rights programs are one way to enhance your knowledge and understanding so you can contribute to creating and implementing solutions. Whether it’s identifying potential human rights abuses or holding to account those who have already committed them, these programs are critical to ensuring we live in a just world, and not one where a small number can hoard all the power and wealth to exploit and oppress others.
With Which Organizations And Where Can I Take A Human Rights Internship?
Human rights internships are available all over the world, whether they are with big multilateral international organizations like the UN or through non-governmental organizations like Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International. However, they can be highly competitive due to the large number of applicants and their high demand. This means that networking and making connections, as well as having a standout resume, are very important.
When exploring internship opportunities, it is advisable to develop a specialty in a specific regional area or a particular thematic focus, such as human rights law or mine clearing, as the field of human rights is extensive and global in scope.
Choose A Regional Focus
Choosing a regional focus is entirely down to your personal interests and ambitions. If you already have experience or speak a language that makes you particularly suitable for one area, pursue this further and concentrate your efforts on finding something in this region. If you are coming at this with no relevant experience, consider what type of work you most enjoy and where it might be applicable in the future. In addition, you will have to consider whether your current language skills are sufficient or if you will need to study another language to take up an opportunity.
Consider The Middle East
One region with numerous opportunities for human rights internships is the Middle East, due to the plethora of international organizations that operate there. While speaking Arabic is definitely advantageous, it’s not always necessary, as there are opportunities for English speakers.
How To Find Human Rights Internships
There are a variety of ways to find human rights internships. If you are a current university student, you likely will be able to find opportunities through your university, and an internship may even be compulsory for your studies. You may also be able to see your own internship outside of your university and still obtain academic credit for it. You may also be able to find internship opportunities through your network. By talking with people you know who work or study in this field, or have connections in it, you might be able to find an internship or at least get your foot in the door.
Otherwise, the internet is also full of internship opportunities. You may wish to look on LinkedIn, do a Google search, or look at websites such as Go Overseas that offer a range of different overseas programs from studying abroad, to language learning abroad, to volunteering, to internships. Of course, if you have a specific country or region in mind, it will be easier to search and sort through options online.
Advice For Applying For Human Rights Internships
When applying for human rights internships or any other internships, it’s essential to carefully read the eligibility requirements and application instructions to create your application accordingly. This sounds very simple and basic, but it’s something that a significant number of applicants overlook. Firstly, this will ensure that you are applying for an internship for which you are eligible. Secondly, it will ensure you provide all the necessary documents and materials for the organization to assess. It also demonstrates your ability to follow instructions and pay attention to details.
In addition to this, ensure your resume and cover letter are well-written, error-free, and highlight the skills, experience, and education the organization or internship explicitly seeks. To know what they are looking for, you may find it in the internship outline or application information; however, you can also find out more by researching the organization, the work that they do, who they hire, as well as looking for any reviews, testimonials, or feedback that you can find online.
Preparing Yourself For An Overseas Post
Suppose you are lucky enough to be selected for an internship (bearing in mind how fiercely competitive this field is). In that case, your journey has only just begun, and you will need to start adequately preparing yourself. Keep reading to learn more.
Health Precautions
Before traveling abroad, it’s essential to ensure you have taken all necessary vaccinations and health precautions, especially if you’re visiting regions prone to exotic diseases, such as Africa or Southeast Asia. Some internship programs may even require a letter from your doctor stating that you are in good health.
Security Precautions
Additionally, if there are security difficulties in the place you wish to undertake your internship, read all the applicable safety information and travel advice before visiting. It can also be a good idea to find blogs, vlogs, or articles created by people who have recently visited or lived in your chosen destination to give you a better idea about the safety situation, life in general, and any tips.
Pack Appropriately
Another important consideration is to pack appropriately for your destination, ensuring you don’t overpack or underpack. Research the location to learn about the weather and local culture and customs, as these are things that will heavily impact which clothing is most suitable for you to pack. You may also want to pack essentials for your well-being, such as insect spray, sunscreen, skincare products, feminine hygiene products, and any medicine you are currently taking or anticipate needing for illnesses.
Start Learning The Local Language
On top of that, you may want to consider learning a bit of the local language so that you can feel comfortable traveling alone in a new and unfamiliar environment (and avoid getting ripped off on transport costs!).
Prepare Your Phone
It’s also a good idea to save an offline map of your destination on the Google Maps app on your phone, which can help you navigate your new surroundings even without internet. You might also want to look up information about getting a SIM card before you arrive, as using your current phone plan abroad is likely to be very expensive.
New e-sims are now available online, offering 100% digital solutions for foreign countries. This can be a great way to ensure you have internet access as soon as you arrive, eliminating the need to purchase a physical SIM card. However, to buy a digital SIM or a new SIM abroad, you will need to make sure your phone is unlocked (and not locked to a specific carrier).
Prepare Your Flights And Travel Insurance
Finally, it’s necessary to book travel insurance and flights to your destination. It’s always a good idea to shop around before making any purchases to ensure you get the best deal for yourself. Another important consideration is finding flights that include a sufficient luggage allowance and that depart and arrive at a suitable time of the day, because some flights may be cheap. Still, if they come at midnight, you may have trouble getting from the airport to your destination.
5 Human Rights Internship Programs in Palestine 2026-2027
Excellence Center in Palestine runs Human Rights Internship Programs all year round, which focus on building links with the community to develop direct and indirect action on Human Rights. The program involves visiting courts and refugee camps, speaking with lawyers and activists to build a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the Human Rights picture in Hebron in the West Bank.
Once you have learned a little more about the local situation, you will run (or assist with) Human Rights workshops for school and university students to help develop Human Rights awareness among young people.
Here you can check out all of these programs:
1. Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees: This program caters to undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, retirees, and anyone interested in engaging with the work concerning Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Palestine. Getting involved in refugee assistance presents an excellent opportunity for university students and recent graduates seeking to gain experience in the human rights field.
Through this project in the West Bank, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian children, women, and youths to enhance each other’s skills, create mutual understanding, engage in language exchange, and make a difference in each other’s lives.
The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank program is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. People from all countries and majors are welcome to join this program. There are no specific degree requirements. All that is required is a willingness to participate and help.
2. The Palestinian Women’s Rights Program
The Palestinian Women’s Rights Program in the West Bank is a volunteer initiative that allows international visitors to visit Palestine and gain exclusive insight into women’s rights in the West Bank. Located in the vibrant city of Hebron, the project provides participants with many opportunities to meet Palestinian women, visit women’s rights organizations, and engage in educational and cultural activities.
Aimed at educating international participants about the current power dynamics of women in Palestinian society, you will get involved with volunteering with Palestinian women by promoting their rights and empowering them in all spheres of life, including the family, the workplace, and politics, all whilst ensuring they are safe from violence, exploitation, and discrimination.
Altogether, this volunteer program will enable you to gain awareness about gender equality in Hebron (one of the most conservative cities in Palestine) whilst also allowing you to study and practice Arabic, meet other internationals, and experience Palestinian daily life.
3. Palestinian Law and Legal Systems Internship
Palestinian Law and Legal Systems Internship: This legal internship program is ideal for students of law, the social sciences, and human rights, as well as for anyone interested in the Palestinian legal system as it operates in the West Bank. As an intern, you can enroll for a period of from 1 to 13 weeks, year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The Palestinian Law program aims to provide a full understanding of legislation applying to the West Bank and Gaza.
During the legal internship program, you will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal and religious institutions, as well as legal clinics in the city of Hebron, Palestine. You will witness the enactment of laws, the decision-making process, court rulings, legal negotiations, and mediations in various social settings.
4. Human Rights Internship in Palestine
Human Rights in Palestine Internship Program: Excellence Center in Palestine in Hebron offers human rights volunteer opportunities that highlight Palestinian rights and promote personal and professional growth. Students gain experience in international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while enhancing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants will raise awareness about human rights in the West Bank and support local communities through education.
Excellence Center in Palestine offers human rights internships and volunteer programs year-round for 1 to 13 weeks, with flexible start and end dates. Participants can learn Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic) and receive three hours of Arabic instruction weekly from qualified teachers. You’ll engage with Palestinian and international NGOs, professors, students, and human rights activists and participate in excursions to refugee camps and organizations, enhancing your academic work and Arabic skills.
5. Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages
Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages: This program offers an excellent opportunity for individuals of all ages, from students to retirees, to work directly with Palestinian communities in villages and rural areas of the West Bank, including Dura and the Hebron Hills, such as Masafer Yatta, Susya, Umm Al-Khayr, the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, and Bani Na’im. Volunteers will collaborate with Palestinian children, youth, women, and refugees to enhance their skills and participate in educational and recreational activities.
Volunteers will also learn Arabic to communicate with the locals and visit sites of Palestinian cultural and historical significance in and around Hebron city. This program is an excellent opportunity to deepen their understanding of daily life in Palestinian communities, security challenges, and resilience under occupation.
We Include Housing And Arabic Lessons
Excellence Center in Palestine houses successful applicants with a host family (for women) or else in an apartment shared with other interns (for men). All our internship programs offer the opportunity to begin or continue learning Arabic, which is very valuable if you want to build up a focus on the Middle East and continue working in the region. Once you have completed the internship, you will receive a certificate of completion from our center as well as ongoing support for your plans (such as the provision of a reference).
A Fulfilling Program
The program is so fulfilling as you get to see the impact you are making in the community. If you are selected for this program, you will develop the skills needed to succeed in a career in Human Rights around the world. Applicants who already have experience in law are especially appreciated, but everyone with an interest is welcome to apply. Should you be accepted, program dates are flexible, with the internship lasting from a couple of weeks up to three months.
Enhance Your Credentials While Impacting The Community
The internship provided by Excellence Center in Palestine is an excellent opportunity to enhance your credentials in the field of Human Rights by working alongside established professionals. What’s most significant, however, is the chance to make a tangible impact and provide support to a community that you will soon feel deeply connected to. Seeing the difference you can make and making new friends are the highlights for most of our interns. They find that not only do the locals provide ongoing updates as to the lasting impact of the interns’ work, but they also help the former interns to continue their Arabic learning journey once they have left the Middle East.
A Genuine Impact
We aim to make a long-term difference with all of our volunteer and internship programs, for both the Palestinian local community and you through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. All of our programs are well researched and targeted to ensure they have a tangible impact and foster shared learning for both our community and you. Volunteering or interning in the West Bank affords you the unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life and the lives of local Palestinians and the wider community. This is particularly critical work when it comes to the field of human rights.
During your program, you will have the experience of being immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life while learning about the current political and human rights situation first-hand from Palestinians. This will better educate and inform you, ensuring you are better equipped to make a genuine impact on the lives of those in the local community as well as your own life.
Our Summer Human Rights Internship Program
If you’re looking for human rights programs in Palestine in the Middle East in the summer, we invite you to join us. Our summer program is particularly ideal for students or those with an extended break during the summer; however, you don’t have to be a student. If you are a current student looking for academic credit towards your studies, we can provide this thanks to our collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
The summer months are our busiest in terms of hosting international volunteers, interns, and students from around the world, so there are plenty of chances to make friends and have cultural exchanges. While you are in Palestine, you will not only learn about the human rights situation but also acquire some Arabic skills through the classes we provide, as well as in your own time, as you will be immersed in Palestinian culture and Palestinian Arabic.
Human Rights Program Participation Benefits
Excellence Center in Palestine offers numerous benefits to all of our participants. Some of these benefits include:
- Being immersed in Palestinian daily life and culture, while living in Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank.
- Included accommodation with a Palestinian host family (for women) or an all-male dorm (for men).
- Breakfast each day that you are out of our center, where you can try authentic Palestinian food in a social atmosphere.
- There are plenty of chances to engage with the local community, whether through trips that we organize, through your program commitments (such as teaching classes or facilitating activities or workshops), or in your own free time.
- Gain an understanding of the human rights situation in Palestine through presentations, meetings, visits to human rights organizations, as well as other relevant organizations and areas affected by the Israeli occupation.
- You get to create and deliver presentations or workshops for Palestinian youth based on your expertise in the field of human rights.
- We provide you with three hours of Arabic tuition each week of your program, in either MSA, Levantine, or Colloquial Palestinian dialect, taught by one of our well-qualified Arabic teachers.
- Your Arabic lessons will be taught one-on-one or in small groups, allowing you to receive personalized instruction and attention from your teacher, helping you learn faster.
- Meet new people and make friends with other volunteers, interns, students, our Palestinian staff, as well as locals.
- Opportunities to enjoy traditional Palestinian food and drinks and experience Palestinian hospitality.
- We organize various activities and trips around Hebron, including visits to the Old City, a keffiyeh factory, a glass and ceramics factory, the Ibrahimi Mosque, a local refugee camp, and interactions with local artists and organizations.
- You will have two days off per week to spend as you wish. You may want to plan trips with your new friends to nearby cities such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin, the Dead Sea in Jericho, Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
- We provide 24/7 program assistance, including pre-departure support.
- If you would like, we can provide current students with academic credit for the duration of their program.
- You will also receive a certificate upon completion of your program.
Reviews and Awards
5 Human Rights Internship Programs in Palestine 2026-2027 – Summary
Participating in a human rights program in the West Bank will surely have a positive impact on your life and allow you to positively impact the lives of those around you, as well as in our local community. The field of human rights is critical in the strive for a just and fair world, and it begins with educating ourselves and those around us.
While there are many human rights programs available around the world, we invite you to join us in Palestine, which has been suffering from oppression and human rights abuses due to the Israeli Occupation for over 70 years. This means that there are many opportunities in Palestine to learn about human rights as well as to contribute to improving the situation. Human rights issues cannot be solved by one person alone; they require a collective effort, and each person can teach another.
At Excellence Center in Palestine, we work to ensure a mutually beneficial experience, both for our local community and for our volunteers. Our programs are ideal for students, graduates, professionals, anyone taking a gap year or sabbatical, or anyone else wishing to go beyond being a regular tourist in Palestine. However, those with previous experience in the legal and/or human rights field will be highly regarded.
We look forward to receiving your application for our human rights program soon!
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