Advocacy Internship at the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC)

Job Title

Advocacy Intern

Job Location

Washington, D.C.

Job Overview

• Assist in planning Advocacy Day for June Survivors Week
• Increase organization's visibility through various tasks
• Set up congressional meetings for survivors and supporters
• Conduct research on Congress Members interested in global human rights
• Interact directly with survivors at TASSC and in Congress
• Choose independent projects related to Advocacy issues

Compensation

Unpaid internship

Responsibilities

• Set up congressional meetings for survivors and TASSC supporters on Advocacy Days in Congress —June 26 and June 27 -- and follow-up visits in July.
• Research on USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), the US asylum agency which has a policy to not interview survivors and other asylum applicants who have waited 5, 6, 7 or even 8 years for an interview with an asylum officer.
• Research positions of U.S. policymakers on torture and human rights abuse in countries survivors have fled from, mostly Ethiopia, Cameroon, Eritrea and Sudan.
• Lead a delegation of survivors and TASSC supporters on Advocacy Days in Congress
• Write articles on “Asylum Justice” (the USCIS problem) and human rights issues, especially in Africa, for the TASSC website in July
• Work 7-8 hours a week with the Executive Director on planning activities for June Survivors Week

Requirements

• Experience working on federal or state legislation, or strong willingness to learn how the U.S. Congress functions, and the roles of various congressional committees. Experience in student political campaigns a plus.
• Willingness to learn about TASSC’s Campaign for “Asylum Justice” for torture survivors who entered the US legally with visas and did not cross the US-Mexican border. Interest in learning about torture and other human rights, especially in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Eritrea and Sudan.
• Ability to relate well with immigrant populations, work collaboratively and multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends during the last two weeks of June, with several days off in July. This is a requirement.
• Preference is for students earning college credit for their internship

We're excited for you to apply!