In 2016, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Geneva joined forces on the common understanding that promoting human rights worldwide must first be applied to basic human rights in their own structures. As a result of this, they started promoting a basic pay (stipend) for their interns.

There is no justification whatsoever that could support any structure working towards the improvement of human rights that does not pay its interns. Not to pay interns prevents people from the Global South from interning in Northern NGOs and International Organisations (IOs). This is fundamentally contrary to the most basic human values that we claim to defend.

We have to put an end to what has become normal and acceptable. We proudly proclaim that we pay our interns.