Skip to Content

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

Syria Justice and Accountability Centre Fellowship

All travel must follow current guidelines, which are detailed in the International Institute Travel Policy.

DHRC Syria Justice and Accountability Centre Fellowship

Washington, DC.

Overview

The Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC) is offering a fellowship to fund a summer internship with the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) in Washington, DC. The fellowship is open to undergraduate students in any department. Applicants should be available from May to August 2024. They must demonstrate an interest in human rights and transitional justice and have some background of the conflict in Syria.

The fellowship provides a stipend of $5,000 to defray the costs of living in Washington, DC for eight weeks. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee from DHRC and SJAC. Upon completion of this fellowship, participants are expected to deliver a presentation of their projects and experiences and submit a written reflection to DHRC.

Position Description

Fellows will be responsible for supporting SJAC’s analysis and research, as well as for communicating SJAC’s message to Syrians and the international community. They are also encouraged to pursue their own research on transitional justice and peacebuilding that contributes to SJAC’s mission to prevent impunity, promote redress for victims, and facilitate principled institutional reform in Syria. Research may consist of short-form analysis published on SJAC’s weekly blog or can be a long-term project with the goal of publishing a report for a wider audience. Fellows may also choose to focus their time on one of SJAC’s initiatives, such as its Missing Persons Program, depending on programmatic needs and language skills. They will work closely with members of SJAC’s team, including executive director Mohammad Al Abdallah, a Syrian human rights and democracy researcher, activist, and former political prisoner.

Desired Qualifications

English proficiency is required. Arabic proficiency is desirable. Knowledge of WordPress, MailChimp, Google Analytics, Excel, and Adobe Suites is an asset. A successful applicant will have basic knowledge of the Syrian conflict and an understanding of the broader regional context. They should be open to new ideas and encouraged to think creatively in order to craft solutions to the problems facing Syrians.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2024

Notification: March 15, 2024

Eligibility requirements: This fellowship is intended for U-M undergraduates focusing on international human rights. It is not open to graduating seniors (graduating in WN24, SP/SU24). Students must return to campus for at least one semester after completion of this internship.

Application procedure: Applicants must submit: Resume/CV, statement of purpose, transcript, and at least one letter of recommendation from a UM instructor. Applicants must submit an application via M-Compass.

Contact Information: dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu

About

The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) is a leading Syrian justice organization working to comprehensively collect, preserve, and analyze documentation of violations committed by all parties to the Syrian conflict for use in transitional justice and peace-building efforts. In addition to supporting documenters inside Syria, SJAC leads various initiatives aimed at encouraging victims to participate in accountability efforts for atrocity crimes, including through universal jurisdiction cases.

Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC)  is a forum for intellectual exchange on issues around human rights among scholars, practitioners, students, and the broader public. Toward that end, we invite leading practitioners and scholars to share their insights and expertise on human rights gained through their experiences and research. We also offer internship and study-abroad opportunities to students that would enhance their understanding of contemporary human rights issues and equip them with the tools to tackle challenging human rights problems around the world.