NOTE: Fellowship applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis

As of today, 30 April 2008, KHRP has reviewed its Fellowship application process. Applications will now be accepted all year round.

If the fellowship is already filled at the time of application, your application will be kept on file and considered once the next fellowship vacancy is open.

The current Fellowship vacancy has not yet been filled, and applications are encouraged.  Notice will be given on this page once the current vacancy is filled.

Applications already received are currently being considered and we will be in touch shortly with shortlisted applicants.

Please also note the amended Fellowship Curriculum below.

(Note: According to advice we have received, applicants from Kurdistan, Iraq should have G series passports and proof of having travelled to a Council of Europe country, Russia, the US or Australia and returned to Kurdistan in the last 10 years)  

A KHRP International Fellow must be an individual from the Kurdish regions with considerable promise and at least 3 years experience as a defender / advocate of human rights in the Kurdish regions.

Legal practitioners are encouraged to apply.

The fellowship will be open to both sexes.

Funding

To maintain its independence, KHRP does not accept money from any organisations or institutions, governmental or non-governmental, in the Kurdish regions - or anyone with ties to them. Its funding derives from charitable grant-making trusts and foundations and non-statutory sources. In addition it receives money from a number of private institutions and individuals. It is from these sources that the Fellowship will be funded.

Selection

The selection process shall be rigorous, and the standards of excellence as detailed below will be high.

The Fellowship will be granted to candidates with a commitment to the principle of Universal Human Rights as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons in the Kurdish regions, irrespective of race, religion, sex, political persuasion, sexual orientation or other belief or opinion. 

The Fellow must show dedication to the furtherance of international human rights mechanisms and to advancing the capacity of civil society to engender respect for the rule of law.

Successful candidates will be appointed by a Selection Committee comprising KHRP Directorship, staff, Advisory Board and International NGO partners.

Fellowship Curriculum*

*Please note that this curriculum was amended on 30 April 2008 to remove the distinction between junior and senior fellowships. From this date there will be one fellowship curriculum only. Previous applications to the older curriculum will still be considered

The successful candidate will collaborate with KHRP's extensive legal team (comprising leading lawyers hailing from internationally recognised bar associations and private law firms in Europe and in the regions) on active cases at the European Court of Human Rights and complaints to UN and other international human rights mechanisms. Moreover, in addition to general preparation of KHRP's unique biannual Legal Review- the only existing legal journal focusing on human rights developments in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucasus- the Fellow will co-author at least one contributory article. Finally, to further enrich the programme, the Fellow will speak at a minimum of two public engagements arranged by KHRP, detailing aspects of the human rights situation in his/her homeland; further participate in at least one visit to Brussels (e.g. European Parliament), Strasbourg (e.g. European Court of Human Rights), or the United Nations Mission in New York or Geneva or other relevant international meeting.

By researching, advising, and reporting on specific issues and incidents of human rights in the Kurdish regions- this includes translation of relevant domestic legislation and legal documentation, where necessary- the Fellow will provide invaluable support to KHRP. Moreover, his/her attendance and participation at various human rights events will help to better facilitate KHRP's contacts with people on the ground, while providing the Fellow an excellent opportunity to network with grassroots as well as governmental contacts internationally.

Depending on his/ her qualifications, the Fellow will further provide their legal expertise regarding the exhaustion of domestic remedies and burdens of proof. This will incorporate many challenging areas of human rights law or legal precedent, including cases concerning the death penalty, torture and ill-treatment or freedom of expression.

The Fellow will also receive English language tuition (either ongoing and/ or intensive) tailored to his/her specific language needs.

Fellowship Award

Upon successful completion of the programme, Fellows make a presentation on their experience and are given a small monetary award in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the organisation's work, either during KHRP's annual human rights awards or during the biannual KHRP legal team meetings in London.

Placement and Duration

Fellowships are full-time for 3-6 months, based at KHRP's Central London Headquarters. Office hours are 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. The office is not open at weekends.

During the 12 months following the end of the Fellowship, the Fellow must also willingly represent KHRP at up to three public events, co-author at least one article for Newsline (the KHRP quarterly newsletter), and give a presentation at KHRP's annual Human Rights Award or biannual Legal Team meetings in London, on how the Fellowship has impacted his/her human rights work since returning to their homeland.

Fellowship Provisions

KHRP International Fellowships provide:

• Basic cost of living stipend

• Any related travel costs incurred when Fellows represent the organisation at events either during or in the year following their Fellowship

• Accident/ sickness insurance

• English language tuition

• Small cash award upon successful completion of Fellowship

Note: The Fellowship Program does not provide financial support for accompanying dependents.

Selection Criteria

General:

To be eligible for KHRP's International Fellowship Programme, applicants must have:

• Current residency of/ a permanent base within the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria or parts of the former Soviet Union. Should we not receive an adequate pool of applicants from the regions, we may consider applicants of Kurdish origin based in the EU with a demonstrated commitment to work with the Kurdish Diaspora and its relationship to/ influence on the Kurdish regions. Diaspora candidates' level of English and Kurdish must be fluent and their overall candidature will be held to a higher standard.

• Basic computer literacy

• The ability to work as part of a team

• The ability to work under pressure when necessary

• A flexible approach

• Experience of research and analysis

All Fellows are required to comply with a confidentiality agreement and must work exclusively for KHRP during their Fellowship.

Specific:

To be eligible for the KHRP Fellowship, applicants must:

• Hold a degree. Legal practitioners/ holders of a law degree are particularly encouraged to apply, but equivalent human rights training/ experience will also be considered in applicants who demonstrate considerable promise and devotion to working in the Kurdish regions

• Have a minimum 3 years of substantial professional experience as an advocate or defender of human rights in the Kurdish regions

• Possess demonstrable interest in the development of Civil Society Organisations

• Have an intermediate or advanced intermediate level of English, both written and spoken. This should include a strong knowledge of legal terms ( please note that this is essential and non-negotiable)

• Basic understanding of international human rights bodies with which KHRP works, i.e. the European Court of Human Rights, the United Nations and the OSCE Human Dimensions Mechanism, the Council of Europe

Selection Process:

• Members of the Selection Committee review received applications and make recommendations/ draw up a short-list of candidates.

• Telephone interviews are held (the first interview will always be by telephone) with short listed candidates by members of the Selection Committee.

• Where necessary, a second stage interview is held by members of the Selection Committee - either by phone or in person during KHRP trips to the region (in the interests of equality, the same method will be applied to all candidates).

How to apply

As noted above, applications for the KHRP International Fellowship have now been made permanently open. Once the vacancy is filled, a notice to that effect will be posted on this page, however applications are welcomed for consideration for future Fellowship vacancies.

To apply for a KHRP Fellowship:

• Download and complete the Application Form and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (below). CVs will only be accepted as supporting documentation to the application form, but are not mandatory.
• Submit a sample of writing (500-1,000 words) on a relevant topic of your choice
• Submit two letters of recommendation from colleagues/ employers who have worked with and are familiar with your work in the human rights field.

APPLICATION FORM : PDF FORMAT / WORD DOC FORMAT

Please return by email to:

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Or in the post to:

Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP)

11 Guilford Street

London WC1N 1DH

Tel +44 (0) 207 405-3835

Fax + 44 (0) 207 404-9088

Equal Opportunities Policy

KHRP is committed to a policy of equal opportunities. In order to monitor the operation of this policy it is necessary to collect information from all job and volunteer applicants and employees on the key characteristics which relate to equal opportunity. The Equal Opportunities Policy aims to ensure that no direct or indirect discrimination occurs on the grounds of gender, colour, race, age, marital status or disability. The information you give is in confidence and will not affect your selection. It will be used only for statistical purposes to monitor the operation of the Equal Opportunities Policy.

Disability

Applications are welcomed from disabled applicants. If you have a disability, you are advised to contact us if you need help completing the application form and/ or if any adjustments need to be made in advance to facilitate your full participation the selection stage and/ or thereafter.

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