The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY

Internship Program Proposal to Universities / Colleges

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women NY gladly accepts interns interested in broadening their knowledge on the topic of women’s rights.

Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, and are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year. Internship assignments also vary greatly in terms of content. They may involve working on, and updating the website, monthly mailings, answering and maintaining list server — including responding to e-mails, taking minutes at executive meetings, assisting in coordination events such as the yearly CSW session that takes place in February/March, and writing reports on various women’s issues.

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women Internship program operates on a non-remunerative basis. The costs connected with an intern's participation in the program must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the individual, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation etc.

If you are interested in an internship opportunity please submit a cover letter and resume to interns@ngocsw.org.

For internships with the UN go to www.un.org or individual or specialized agency.

Who We Are

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women is a non-profit corporation organized to bring non-governmental organizations from around the world together to work towards advancing the status of women worldwide. The Committee has a membership in New York of about 250 individuals representing nearly 100 international NGOs. The Committee sponsors an international consultation each year, just prior to meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. In addition, the Committee offers training for NGO representatives who come to New York to attend meetings of the Commission.

The Committee offers its members in New York monthly meetings and roundtable discussions on issues facing the UN and its specialized agencies that affect the status of women. In addition, the Committee hosts a listserv for communicating with members, and is starting a website to post information about UN meetings and offerings of the Committee.

The Committee is affiliated with the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN, also known as CONGO.

Our Goals

Our goals include:

• Train women and girls attending the NGO meetings accompanying meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women and the meetings of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• Empower women and girls with skills to clearly present their ideas and information before meetings of governments at the United Nations and in their countries.
• Bring NGO representatives from around the world together to share information and ways of work to improve the status of women worldwide.
• Develop networks and broadcast information about meetings that affect the status of women that are being held throughout the UN system.
• Develop a system of mentoring young women and girls to become active at the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

Internship Program

In order to fulfill these goals, a program for interns is essential. Goal 5 points out that one of our goals is to develop a mentoring program. The Committee would like to be able to support at least four interns each semester. These young women would be assigned qualified members of the Committee to work with them as their mentors. These members would be selected according to their backgrounds, and would have a minimum of one advanced degree appropriate to the supervision of the interns — either a Ph.D. or Masters Degree.

Expectations of Interns

Interns would be expected to work a minimum of two days per week in the NGO Committee office, and a third day either attending meetings or conducting research at the United Nations. Research may be conducted at the UN library or at the DPI Resource Center.

Generally internships will begin in September and continue to January. The second session will be from January through May. Summer internships run from June through August.

Internships are unpaid at this time, but subway fare for the days worked will be reimbursed.

Specific assignments will be made according to the intern’s interest and background.

internships available:

• Listserv design and maintenance
• Website design and maintenance
• Networking with organizations that attended the CSW sessions to produce short descriptions of these side events held with contact details. These will be posted on the website.
• Support for the on-going work of the NGO Committee, including support for the training programs and information sessions for NGOs.
• Maintenance of the Committee membership and special events.

Project status will be assessed for final evaluation of the student’s accomplishments, as will the learning of the student. Student objectives will include acquiring an understanding of the organization and structure of the United Nations and how it operates in respect to the status of women.

Specific student objectives will be agreed at the beginning of the internship and should include specific dates and times of work, meetings with the Committee mentor, meetings with the other interns to compare experiences, a training system to acquire knowledge of the United Nations in New York, and specific understanding of the women’s movement internationally.

Internships can be agreed for two semesters, or for a full year.