Intern – Drug Control

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Work Location

Vienna, Austria

Expected duration

6 months, 40 hours per week Flexible Working Hours, 09:30 to 17.30 CEST

Duties and Responsibilities

The internship is located in the Conference Support Section (CSS), Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna, Austria. The position is for a period of 6 months with a desirable start in February 2026 depending on the needs of the Section and the availability of the candidates. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member of the Section. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the most comprehensive international legally-binding instrument to prevent and fight organized crime and has reached almost universal adherence with 194 States parties at present. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention, at its ninth session held in October 2018, adopted resolution 9/1 establishing the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto (the UNTOC Review Mechanism), a peer review process aimed to support States Parties in their effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocols, as well as to help States Parties identify and substantiate specific needs for technical assistance and ultimately to promote international cooperation and strengthen the implementation of the instruments at the domestic level. UNODC, as the secretariat to the UNTOC Review Mechanism, plays a crucial role in this intergovernmental process by coordinating the country reviews and supporting focal points and governmental experts in their engagement. The internship is located in the UNODC Conference Support Section (CSS), Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB), which acts as the secretariat for the UNTOC Review Mechanism under its Global Programme to Support the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto. During the assignment, the intern will gain experience in: legal research and functioning of mechanisms and processes to gather and review information on the implementation of international treaties; functioning of intergovernmental bodies; structure and functioning of UNODC and its interaction with Member States and the UN. The intern will conduct research, prepare background and support materials in the context of the UNTOC Review Mechanism, assist drafting correspondence and perform other duties as requested. Daily responsibilities will vary and be tailored on the individual's background. The intern shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to: a) Assist in conducting legal research into States' efforts to implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, selecting relevant material, analysing information and presenting findings for internal review; b) Assist in the review of relevant legal documents, papers or other policy materials; identify important issues, similarities and inconsistencies; c) Draft correspondence to States Parties as required; d) Assist the team in servicing intergovernmental processes on transnational organized crime, particularly in relation to the Review Mechanism of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto; e) Undertake other tasks and activities as requested.

Qualifications/special Skills
A field of study in law or a related area is required, preferably with a specialization in criminal law or international law. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work. experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master's or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Teams. Applicants should have the knowledge to design surveys and polls and to be able to collect and analyze data.

Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat, while English and French are its working languages. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.