Human Rights Internships in Ghana

International Human Rights Internships in Ghana

Human Rights in Ghana

Ghana is one of the most stable and well-governed African nations. However, life in its capital city, Accra, remains far removed from any North American or European city. Our Human Rights project offers interns the unique opportunity to get involved at a grass roots level by raising awareness of human rights in a variety of marginalized communities and at risk groups.

Interns work at the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office in Accra where your precise role will be determined by your level of experience and interest in specific areas. However, all interns will get the opportunity to work on worthwhile projects within a structured program. Interning on the human rights project in Ghana will give you first hand experience in human rights practice in Africa.

Internships are ideal if you’re a law student or a graduate seeking practical experience in human rights. The work is also suitable if you're interning as a pre-university student or have a general interest in human rights. The experiences you will have while interning in Ghana will augment any resume.

Interning on a Human Rights Internship in Ghana

Human Rights in Ghana

The mission of the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office is to raise awareness about human rights, monitor vulnerable areas, and resolve human rights abuses. The work is diverse and encompasses a wide range of social issues.

Interns work in social justice, community outreach, legal and social education, poverty, and government accountability. Campaigns are used to educate and monitor both communities and individuals identified as vulnerable or in need of assistance. Additionally, interns resolve complaints and the specific issues victims have. This work often involves reference to international legal standards, various Ghanaian acts of Parliament, and the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

These areas tend to interrelate and the Project Abroad Human Rights Office is open to new ideas to broaden their work.

Internships are demanding and must be taken seriously; in working for the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office you are representing a professional organization in Ghana. You can expect to work in both urban and rural locations, during occasional weekends, meet people at all levels of society, demonstrate cultural understanding, while being wary of imposing a foreign ideal upon Ghanaian society.

Human Rights Education and Awareness

Human Rights in Ghana

Human rights education and awareness is conducted for two reasons. Firstly, many victims of human rights abuses are not aware of the law and legal protections they’re afforded. At the same time, perpetrators don’t often know the legal responsibilities they have to others. Secondly, the empowerment and education of people who are not the apparent victims or perpetrators of human rights abuses encourages their legal conformity in the future. This is especially true of children.

We regularly perform educational and awareness outreach work in communities. These issues include domestic violence, interstate succession, access to land, child labor, child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and the right to education.

Human Rights Monitoring

In order to identify communities and individuals in need of assistance, we perform human rights monitoring. We enter areas and facilities to identify abuses, determine their gravity, assess the needs of people affected, prioritize victims, and determine a strategy to bring about change. We also monitor facilities and activities of associate organizations to offer our most effective and efficient assistance. Our office works towards personnel secondment, source funding for financial assistance or sometimes even direct financial aid.

This monitoring occurs in rural farming, fishing and mining communities. We also work with foreign nationals, seasonal migrants, within city slums, courts, landfills, daily media, and facilities under the direction of state institutions or NGOs.

Monitoring allows us to asses our own level of success so that we may perform better in the future.

Abuse Resolution

Human Rights in Ghana

Where we have identified a victim or group of victims of human rights abuse, we will provide assistance directly rather than in a community setting. Cases are brought to our attention through our open door policy, consultation with visitors, monitoring, awareness/education projects, and referrals from associate organizations and individuals.

Depending on the case, the wishes of the parties involved, the socio-political climate of Ghana, resource considerations, and likelihood of satisfaction, we seek to ensure the development of human rights and assist the complainant. If litigation is considered the best option we arrange pro-bono representation through our associations.

However, the lack of accessibility to Ghanaian courts often means we explore alternative methods of resolution. These include utilizing village chiefs and elders, publicity lobbying campaigns, conventional media, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, or use of the family structures and/or religious institutions. Cases for resolution can cover a wide range of topics such as family, environment, property, health insurance, business practices, and criminality.