If you are interested in fellowships, then you can apply for the UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland. This opportunity is open to international students and individuals of African descent living in the diaspora who are interested in human rights.
The Fully Funded Fellowship supports participants for the 2026 programme year at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. It is designed to provide intensive training on international human rights law and advocacy.
Participants will receive travel support, a stipend, and health insurance during the programme. If you are looking to Study in Europe and apply for a scholarship opportunity for International Students, this is a valuable chance to build your skills.
Apply for the Fellowship today and contribute to promoting human rights globally.
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UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland Summary
- Host Country: Switzerland
- Study Abroad: Study in Europe
- Host: United Nations OHCHR
- Category: Fellowship
- Eligible Countries: People of African Descent in Diaspora
- Reward: Travel | Stipend | Health Insurance
- Deadline: 15 May 2026
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UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland Details
The UN OHCHR Fellowship Program is an intensive human rights training programme for people of African descent. It is held annually at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN entity on human rights. We represent the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Both the High Commissioner and the Office have a unique role to:
- Promote and protect all human rights: We speak out objectively in the face of human rights violations and help elaborate the standards that are used to evaluate human rights progress worldwide.
- Help empower people: Our research, education, and advocacy activities, contributes to the increased awareness and engagement by the international community and the public on human rights issues. This means thousands of people in all regions of the world are empowered to claim their rights.
- Assist Governments: Through our field presences, we help prevent abuses and contribute to defusing situations that could lead to conflict. Our monitoring and analysis feeds sensitive decision-making and development programming. We also provide capacity-building and legal advice to thousands, supporting the development and judicious enactment of laws and policies the world around.
- Inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes: We mainstream human rights into all UN programmes to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights – the three pillars of the UN – are interlinked and mutually reinforced.
The Fellowship programme provides the participants with the opportunity to:
- Learn about and deepen their understanding of international human rights law and the UN human rights system, international frameworks to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and intersecting issues with a focus on people of African descent.
- Gain first-hand exposure to international human rights mechanisms and OHCHR.
- Engage with the international human rights mechanisms and OHCHR, and strengthen skills in developing project proposals and delivering presentations.
The Fellowship Programme was initiated by the OHCHR Anti-Racial Discrimination Section in 2011 and was further supported by the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/69/16 on the Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. The High Commissioner is the coordinator of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034), which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2024 by resolution A/RES/79/193
The programme aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge of international human rights systems and frameworks that address racism, discrimination, and related issues. Participants also gain practical experience engaging with UN human rights mechanisms.
The fellowship will run from 9 to 27 November 2026 and includes preparatory online sessions before the main programme. It is delivered in English and Spanish.
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Eligibility Requirements for the UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland
- Must be a person of African descent living in the diaspora
- Must have at least 4 years of relevant work experience
- Must be engaged in promoting the rights of people of African descent
- Must provide an official letter from a relevant organization
- Must be available for the full duration of the programme
- Must be able to participate in preparatory online sessions
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UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland Benefits
- Return economy-class airfare to Geneva
- Stipend for accommodation and living expenses
- Basic health insurance coverage
- Access to international human rights training
- Opportunity to engage with UN human rights systems
Required Documents for the UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Completed and signed the application form
- Personal statement (maximum 500 words)
- Official letter from a relevant organization
- Copy of passport
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How to Apply for the UN OHCHR Fellowship Program 2026 in Switzerland
- Prepare all required documents
- A completed, signed and scanned Application Form in one single document.
- Write a personal statement (maximum 500 words) explaining your motivation for applying, and how you will use the knowledge gained from the fellowship to promote the interests and rights of people of African descent.
- Combine documents and ensure they meet submission guidelines
- Send your application via email to [email protected]
- Use the subject line: “Application for the 2026 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent”
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Deadline
15 May 2026
Application Link
