The Fellowship for National Human Rights Institutions Statf, carried out for the first time in 2008. is administered by the NationaI lnstitutions Unit of OHCHR. The Programme aims to provide participants with the opportunity to gain knowledge and practical experience with the United Nations human rights system. OHCHR work with and for NHRIs, and technical and substantive issues relating to NHRIs. It is expected that the fellows wiII retum to their NHRIs and thereby strengthen their organizations capacity in international human rights.
 
The Programme takes place at OHCHR in Geneva. Two fellows are selected per year for a six-month period, with one starting in January and the other in JuIy. The fellows receive periodic briefings on the human rights system and relevant thematic issues, and undertake assignments and are involved in projects.
 
Candidates must have at least three years direct expenence working in a NHRI which meets the intemationally adopted standards—the Paris Principles —and extensive expenence working on NHRI - related issues, nationally, regionally and, ideally, intemationally.
 
The candidates should have a supporting letter from their NHRIs and be committed to lmparting the knowledge and experience obtalned dunng their feflowship to colleagues within their NHRIs upon their retum. They should furthermore be fluent in English and/or French. OHCHR provides financial support in the form of a monthty stipend during me fellowship.
Candidates should submit their applications (motivation letter, curnculum vitae, Ietter of support trom their NHRIs) directly to OHCHR. The National lnstitutions Unit selects candidates in consultation with the Bureau of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Prornotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC).