Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the U.S. Amnesty International USA has more than one million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of 10 million people in 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Directors. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization.

Fellowship Description

Ladis Kristof was an East European refugee who fled to the West after World War II. He was a founding member of the Portland, Oregon Amnesty group and a Professor of Political Science at Portland State University who believed that we each have the power to transform ourselves and our society. His faith in humankind’s “ability to recover from lapses” and “climb to higher level of…achievement” was maintained despite a personal history of loss, imprisonment, and exile. This same faith underlies Amnesty International’s mission to harness the power of collective action to ensure justice and freedom for all people. Ladis Kristof’s personal generosity and determination inspired many: family and friends, colleagues and students, and the human rights activists of AIUSA’s Portland, Oregon Local Group #48.

AIUSA is proud to strengthen and expand Ladis Kristof’s legacy and honor his lifelong commitment to human rights by partnering with the Kristof family on the Ladis Kristof Memorial Fellowship for Human Rights Advocacy, a fellowship to honor and inspire a new generation of human rights defenders.

Job Summary

The Ladis Kristof Memorial Fellowship will promote a deeper understanding of human rights work, strengthen the Fellow’s organizing skills, and further prepare them to be an effective lifelong activist.

The Fellow will join dynamic, in-progress efforts on AIUSA’s work, building knowledge of domestic and international human rights issues and learning the channels and practices by which Amnesty International delivers much-needed public and governmental scrutiny to end human rights violations.

The Fellow’s residency expenses for the ten weeks, including airfare to and from the office city if they work in person, will be covered by a $8,500 stipend. The start date is flexible but ideally would like a candidate to start sometime in May 2025.

The Kristof Fellow may work remotely anywhere in the United States, but can choose to work in-person if located near AIUSA’s Washington, DC, office. Some domestic travel is required for this role (see information below).

Essential Responsibilities

• Fellows will work in a variety of areas throughout their ten-week fellowship. However, the focus will be on the Youth & Student Program and advancing a project within the organizational youth strategy.

One exceptional AIUSA student activist will receive the Ladis Kristof Memorial Fellowship for their outstanding efforts on human rights and will be awarded a ten-week residency with the Member Engagement and Leadership (or equivalent) unit at AIUSA.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• An understanding of the work and principles central to Ladis Kristof, the Kristof family, Amnesty International, and the human rights movement

• Demonstrated consistency and persistence in human rights work, such as sustained work on behalf of a prisoner of conscience, steadfast campaigning on a particular human rights issue, or building up a group or region over a substantial period of time, will be valued over successful one-time events

• Embody the Kristof belief in a long-term view of human rights work in which progress occurs through courage and determination even, and especially, in the face of continuing adversity

• Tenacity and a deep passion for human rights justice

Education and Experience

• Applicants must be involved with AIUSA as a youth/student activists. In addition, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Enrolled as an undergraduate student as of April 1, 2025, or a graduating high school senior

• At least 18 years of age by May 1, 2025

• Able to complete a ten-week summer residency at the AIUSA office or remotely from your home anywhere in the United States

• A strong track record of commitment to organizing, activism, and engagement

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer

Travel Requirements

• Domestic travel required to the San Francisco-Bay Area for a summer activist training in June (all travel costs, meals and lodging will be covered)

KRISTOF FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must submit the following materials by February 14, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The online application should be completed through AIUSA’s career portal, including the following:

• Resume outlining relevant experience (max two pages)

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email talentacquisition@aiusa.org Please review our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) section for additional information on our hiring process.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS/ ACCOMMODATIONS

All applications must be completed online as a PDF document through the provided Paycom link and we do not accept submissions via email. Due to a high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We do not sponsor candidates seeking visa support. We do not sponsor candidates seeking visa support.

OUR EEO STATEMENT

Amnesty International USA is an equal opportunity employer. AIUSA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

We recognize the valuable skills that can be gained through internships, fellowships, volunteer work, and non-traditional work experience. This experience helps build competencies and knowledge that may translate to our job openings. We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.

OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION AND TO INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA)

Dismantling white supremacy is central to the fight for human rights in the United States and around the world. As we mobilize staff and activists and work with partners to help transform the multiple systems where oppression operates in the world around us as part of our human rights mandate, anti-racism must be integral to our work. To learn more about how we integrate IDEA into our programs and workplace, visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/idea/

REMOTE AND HYBRID WORKPLACE POLICY

Because the health and safety of our employees and candidates are a top priority, we are currently conducting our hiring process virtually. Please review the job description, which will state whether a role is hybrid and remote. Some roles may require travel domestically and/or internationally.