Overview

Within the context of its project to support the documentation of human rights violations committed by the Yahya Jammeh regime in The Gambia, and to facilitate advocacy for accountability and redress to survivors, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) seeks to recruit a legal intern/fellow who will be based at the Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations to provide support to the Centre.

IHRDA is a pan-African non-governmental organization created in 1998 and based in Banjul (The Gambia), working to promote and defend human rights across Africa.

On its part, the Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations was launched in May 2017. In addition to providing psychosocial support to survivors, the Centre seeks to ensure that justice is done to survivors, and to serve as a resource center for survivors and their families. The Centre also seeks to be a liaison between victims of human rights violations and various arms of government during the transitional justice phase of national reconciliation.

Duties

Specifically, the Intern/Fellow will:

• Assist in the reception and registration of victims at the Centre;
• Assist in collecting affidavits and other information from victims seeking to register with the Centre, and ensure proper filing of all documents collected;
• Develop and maintain an electronic database of victims’ stories/experiences;
• Assist with organizing sensitization and advocacy activities of the Centre;
• Perform other cognate duties assigned by supervisors.

Qualifications

The ideal candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Have a degree in law (LLB and BL);
• Be a Gambian based in The Gambia;
• Conversant with The Gambia legal system, as well as international law;
• Have experience interviewing complainants and collecting information on their cases;
• Have good legal research and writing skills;
• Have good proficiency in English;
• Knowledge of one or more of the local languages spoken in The Gambia is desirable;
• Have basic computer skills, notably Microsoft Office pack;
• Experience developing and/or managing electronic databases will be an added advantage;
• Ability to exercise high sense of professionalism and ethics in dealing with victims of human rights violations;
• Willingness to learn and work in a team.

Duration

The internship/fellowship is a period of 18 months, to begin as soon as possible.

Remuneration

The interns/fellows will be given a modest monthly stipend.

Submission of Application

To apply, please submit your motivation letter, curriculum vitae and academic records by Friday, 23 February 2018 to ihrda@ihrda.org and pchabane@ihrda.org.