JOB DESCRIPTION

24140 OTP

Organisational Unit:: Office of External Affairs, Office Of The Prosecutor

Duty Station:: The Hague – NL

Contract Duration:: From 01/04/2026 to

Deadline for Applications:: 31/12/2025 (midnight The Hague time)

Due to the volume of applications received, only successful applicants will be contacted by the Court.

Required Documents for This Application

Please note that you will need to have the following information ready in order to complete your application:

• A completed “Duties and Responsibilities Form” (refer to step 1 on your eRecruitment Profile page).
• Motivation letter (maximum of 300 words).
• Two reference letters (one academic).
• Scanned copies of university degrees and/or diplomas.
• Scanned copies of official academic transcripts that state your courses, results and completion date.
• One short essay on a subject relevant to the work of the Court (maximum of 500 words, single spaced, type written).

Contract Duration

Interns are required to work full time for a period between three and six months (to be agreed to prior to commencement).

Organisational Context

The Office of the Prosecutor is responsible for the independent and impartial investigation and prosecution of individual perpetrators of crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction, in a manner complementary to national jurisdictions. Under the direction of the Prosecutor, the EAU supports the Office’s diplomatic and external engagements with a view to enhancing political support and understanding for its mandate and work. The EAU also supports the Office’s operational cooperation and complementarity needs and relations with external stakeholders. Reflecting these aims, the EAU comprises three components: (a) External Relations; (b) Judicial Cooperation, and c) Complementarity and Civil society. This internship is in the External Relations team, working in close collaboration with the Immediate Office of the Prosecutor, to conduct and support the establishment and management of OTP’s external networks and relations with diplomatic communities, NGO’s and other relevant interlocutors. The External Relations team coordinates and provides external relations input and advice in relation to various decision making processes and products, including in support of the Prosecutor and the Office’s senior management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the External Relations Adviser, the incumbent will assist the External Relations team to perform tasks in the area of external relations, political affairs, research, drafting, analysis, corrsepondence and compilation of materials, as well as supporting organisation of meetings. Core duties and responsibilities will include:

• Assisting in preparation of briefing notes, talking points, speeches and other materials for diplomatic meetings and other engagements of the Prosecutor and senior members of the Office, by formulating written output – in line with existing templates and drafts;
• Conducting online research and assist in compiling relevant documentation in support of bilateral meetings, visits and meetings by senior management of the Office;
• Drafting officials letters and correspondence, taking minutes and preparing summaries of relevant meetings, including meetings of the Assembly of States Parties and its subsidiary bodies such as The Hague Working Group and Study Group on Governance;
• Participating with team members in relevant internal meetings, such as those of the ICC External Relations Working Group;
• Assisting in preparation and organisation of events and meetings, including visits to the Court intended for the Office of the Prosecutor;
• Support organisation of thematic roundtable events, including with participation of civil society organisations, by providing administrative support and follow-up;
• Assisting in drafting of reports, papers, and other written documentation and information products;
• Conducting other background / independent research on topics of relevance for general cooperation and external relations;
• Working with the External Affairs Unit Sharepoint page, updating, compiling and uploading relevant documents as required to ensure continuity of record-keeping.
• Performing any other duties as required.

Required Qualifications

Education:

All candidates must have a degree or be in the final stages of their studies in International Relations, Political Science or a related field from a recognised university. Preference will be given to candidates with a completed Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science or a related field. Candidates are expected to have a very good record of academic performance.

Experience:

Internship placements focus on candidates in the early stages of their professional careers therefore; practical experience is not an essential prerequisite for selection. However, practical experience that is relevant to the work of the Court may be considered an asset. Applicants must have less than three years of relevant full-time professional experience to be considered for an internship.

Preference will be given to candidates with strong interest in international and political affairs, government relations and multilateral diplomacy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong drafting skills and ability to perform research from open sources to produce quality analytical summaries and commentary.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team and engage with individuals from various units and offices.
• Ability to deliver within set deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic office environment.
• Good understanding of current global and geopolitical events, including the UN system and multilateral affairs.
• General understanding of the mandate of the ICC and its priorities.
• Ability to adapt to multicultural and multilingual working environments.
• Strong computer skills (including Microsoft Office applications).

Knowledge of Languages:

Proficiency in English, in particular written (drafting), is required for this position. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Other criteria:

It is the Court’s objective to have diversity and gender balance. And in line with the ICC’s efforts to improve geographical representation among staff, nationals of non-represented and under-represented countries at the ICC are encouraged to apply. The list can be found here.

Remuneration

Please note that internship and visiting professional placements at the ICC are unfunded. The ICC is not able to provide participants in the Internship and Visiting Professional Programme with any remuneration, nor is it possible to provide reimbursement for expenses incurred prior, during or after the internship or visiting professional placement.

Applicants must therefore be able to support themselves for the entire duration of their internship or visiting professional placement.