Intern for Child Protection Programme, Thimphu, Bhutan, 4 months

UNICEF Bhutan Country Office is seeking to recruit an intern to support the Child Protection Section in the area of Justice for Children.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, a future.

Background:

Justice for children is an important component of the UNICEF Bhutan Country Office within the Child Protection Programme. So far UNICEF’s engagement with the Justice Sector has been through the Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI), the Legal Aid Center, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP), the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), Pema Secretariat and Nazhoen Lamtoen on strengthening the legislative framework for children in conflict with the law (CICL) and enhancing the capacities of service providers to support the needs of CICL and children who come in contact with the law.

For UNICEF Bhutan, strengthening all components of the child protection system, including the justice mechanisms, to operate in the best interest of children is a key priority. This includes improving the quality of justice services, facilitating access to justice services to address child protection and child rights violations, and supporting the Government to comply with its domestic and international obligations.

In 2025, continuing with the work on Justice for Children, UNICEF will be:

• Supporting the Legal Aid Centre in improving access to legal aid for children, women and vulnerable people;
• Working with RBP, OAG, BNLI, and Nazhoen Lamtoen to implement programmes on the diversion of CICL and enhance rehabilitation and reintegration services for children in the Youth Rehabilitation and Development Centre (YRDC);
• Working with JSWL School to build capacity on justice for children; legal aid and creating awareness on laws for children.
• Working with the NCWC in the implementation of the CEDAW and CRC concluding observations, law reforms, policies and research related to child protection.
• Working with the JSW Law on Legal aid services to RENEW Community Centers.
• Working with the Pema Secretariat on enhancing child protection and GBV services.
• Working with GovTech Agency on Child Online Protection.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Officer, the intern will: 

1. Support the development of awareness programme on child rights and related materials.
2. Support with research on legal reforms related to the Child Care and Protection Act with NCWC.
3. Support the coordination mechanism for child protection and justice for children.
4. Support with rehabilitation programmes and services in the Youth Rehabilitation and Development Centre under the RBP.
5. Contribute to the assessment of the Women and Child Protection Desk under RBP.
6. Contribute to the review of the mapping of legal framework for child protection in Bhutan on implementation.
7. Support the strengthening of the justice for children workforce and its interaction with the social service workforce for child protection.
8. Contribute to developing project proposals and preparation of reports.
9. Support other programme activities related to child protection as required by the supervisor.

Benefits:

• The intern shall be entitled to all the benefits as provided by UNICEF Procedure on Internship Programme.

Duration of Engagement: 4 months (01 February – 31 May 2025)

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an internship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old;
• Should be a current student of Jigme Singye Wangchuck Law School;
• Must be proficient in English and fluent in the Dzongkha.
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and
• Have no other relatives in the line of authority to which the intern will report to.

Documents to be submitted: 

1. Letter of motivation/Cover Letter

2. CV

3. Copy of Citizenship ID Card

4. Proof of enrollment in JSW Law of School

5. Recent Academic Transcripts

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented group] are encouraged to apply.

Remarks : Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.