The Justice Studies Center of the Americas is an independent technical agency of the Organization of American States (OAS). Its mission is to support the modernization of justice systems in the region. To that end, it develops training and empirical research. The Center is headquartered in Santiago de Chile.
JSCA created the Observatory of Civil Conflict and Access to Justice (OCCA) in 2017 as a mechanism for monitoring the civil disputes that individuals experience and the barriers that they face in regard to resolving them. Special emphasis is placed on at-risk groups in Latin America. In 2018 and 2019, OCCA studied disputes related to housing and land, consumer rights, intimate and family relationships, financial consumer rights, community coexistence and healthcare. OCCA is comprised of civil and academic organizations from seven countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Paraguay. The work of those entities is coordinated by the technical team of the regional observatory at JSCA.
About the internship
The internship is a practical training mode that brings together learning and work by making the intern part of JSCA’s professional team. We are seeking to engage an individual who can play an active part in the team’s work on this project and an important role in the development of materials for distribution. The intern also will participate in activities meant to support efforts to gather data for thematic reports. The internship is directed at individuals with strong writing and reading skills who enjoy innovating and proposing ideas, and who have a genuine interest in social issues and access to justice. The internship provides an opportunity to acquire experience in creative processes and research in the context of an international agency through a project focused on justice in Latin America. The institution will issue a certificate of completion at the end of the internship based on the intern’s performance and ability to meet goals. He or she will receive credit for gathering information and contributing to OCCA publications.
Tasks and responsibilities
Development of materials:
• Analysis of OCCA thematic reports, extraction of key information and drafting of texts for summaries, infographs and other materials to be distributed via social media.
• Analysis of OCCA thematic reports, extraction of key information and drafting of material for website.
• Support for development of the communication strategy for OCCA thematic areas.
Research and information gathering:
• Support information gathering activities for the drafting of thematic reports.
• Conduct searches for academic documents, reports published by diverse organizations and news on the areas on which OCCA focuses for their subsequent dissemination.
Other activities:
• Review and edit OCCA thematic reports.
• Support drafting of thematic reports, communications campaigns and other OCCA activities.
Profile
The ideal candidate will be a student who is at the end of their undergraduate career or has recently graduated in any field in the Social Sciences, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Journalist, Communications, International Studies, Law, etc.
Required attributes:
- Excellent writing and spelling.
- Ability to summarize information.
- Interest in taking part in the creative processes of designing and implementing communication campaigns.
- Basic understanding of human rights, access to justice and at-risk populations.
- Curiosity and research skills.
- Creativity and ability to interpret texts.
- Sensitivity to and interest in issues related to justice and human rights.
Desirable attribute:
• Theoretical/practical knowledge of the topics that OCCA addresses.
About the internship
- Mode: In person. 25 hours per week. Interns will have flexibility when it comes to determining their schedule.
- Interns will be given CLP$50,000 to cover meals and transportation.
- Duration: 6 months
- Start date: March 2020
- Location: Santiago de Chile
Application process
Applicants must submit a CV and letter of interest outlining their expectations for the internship to alejandra.bocarda@cejamericas.org by March 15, 2020. Finalists will be contacted for an interview.