Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) is a non-profit human rights organization headquartered in Washington DC, USA, that fosters awareness of and support for democracy and human rights in Bahrain and the Arab Gulf. We are searching for a dynamic, independent, and passionate individual based in Brussels who is ready to lead and support ADHRB’s legal projects to promote greater advancement and protection of human rights in the region. The individual will primarily be responsible for operating and facilitating the growth of ADHRB’s United Nations (UN) Complaint Program and other related legal projects. The UN Complaint Program is a mechanism by which ADHRB advocates on behalf of human rights victims by communicating cases to the Special Procedures of the United Nations. This is a six-month remote position that reports directly to the Executive Director. This is a remote, office-less, and unpaid fellowship.
Through this fellowship, individuals can expect to gain in-depth knowledge of UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council, the mandates of the Special Procedures and Independent Experts, and various Working Groups. Fellows will learn how to collect, analyze, draft and submit professional, well-drafted complaints to these UN bodies as well as to Bahrain’s oversight bodies – the Ministry of Interior’s Office of the Ombudsman and the National Institution for Human Rights. In addition, fellows will work collaboratively with partner organizations to update UN bodies and file joint complaints. Furthermore, fellows will support and implement ADHRB’s campaign to lift INTERPOL Red Notices from individuals unable to travel as well as implement OECD complaints against relevant companies and corporations.
Minimum Education Requirement: Master of Laws (LLM) or Equivalent
Employment Type: Remote Unpaid Six-Month Fellowship
Professional Level: Entry level (1 – 3 years’ experience)
Job Function: Legal
Primary Responsibilities
Legal Fellows will:
- Evaluate primary documentation of human rights violations and prepare victim complaints to be submitted to the UN Special Procedures;
- Maintain an up-to-date index of victim complaints for ADHRB documentation and advocacy purposes;
- Identify and research pertinent domestic and international law as it pertains to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC);
- Monitor companies operating with GCC governments to ensure their policies are in line with guidelines which stipulate prevention and/or mitigation of adverse human rights impacts;
- Prepare legal briefs on issues pertaining to United Nations treaty bodies and International Human Rights Law;
- Lead legal projects that promote the implementation of human rights policies in businesses and corporations operating within the GCC region;
- Assist with client interviews as necessary to document human rights violations;
- Attend and take notes on conferences and events of concern to ADHRB’s legal program;
- Assist the advocacy team as necessary and with administrative duties as necessary.
Qualifications and Skills
The ideal candidate will:
- Be fluent in English (required),
- Have experience applying pertinent domestic and international law to complex fact patterns, particularly in forms similar to those of legal memoranda;
- Be interested in and knowledgeable of human rights issues, particularly with respect to torture, the freedoms of speech, expression, and association, due process rights, and/or prisoners’ rights;
- Have a working knowledge of the United Nations system and human rights mechanisms;
- Have a working knowledge of the complaint processes within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
- Demonstrate excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills;
- Be able to master complex human rights issues under tight deadlines with minimal supervision;
- Possess solid organizational and time-management skills;
- Be committed to ADHRB’s mission; and
- Be able to commit to 40 hours/week for 6 months of employment.
The Legal Fellowship is an unpaid fellowship position. This fellowship includes possible travel to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland to meet with Working Groups and Special Rapporteurs.
To apply, please email
Your resume or CV; a cover letter; an excerpted legal brief (10 pages max.); and a list of three professional references, which identify their relationship to you and contact information.
Please send your application materials to habdulla@adhrb.org with “Legal Fellow – Brussels” in the subject line.
