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Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Fellowship Program
RFK Human Rights provides fellows with the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change while developing the skills and networks necessary to become leaders in the human rights field.

Why RFK Human Rights?
As a leader in the fight for social justice, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights provides fellows with hands-on experience in advancing human rights through advocacy, litigation, and policy work. Fellows are embedded in programs where they take on meaningful projects to address systemic abuses, promote government accountability, and drive transformative change.
Fellowship Overview
The RFK Human Rights Fellowship provides law students and young lawyers with the opportunity to engage in high-impact projects across our programs. It offers hands-on experience in human rights advocacy and a chance to make meaningful contributions. Fellows gain unique exposure to our ongoing cases, strategic litigation, policy reforms, and advocacy efforts to drive systemic change.
Benefits for Fellows
Leadership Development: Fellows gain ownership over significant projects, leading initiatives that shape the organization’s impact.
Publication Opportunities: Fellows contribute to legal briefs, articles, and other publications.
Networking and Mentorship: Fellows engage with senior organizational leaders, legal experts, and a diverse network of human rights advocates.
Real-World Impact: Fellows participate in groundbreaking cases, policy changes, and programs that challenge unjust systems and drive forward meaningful reform.
Fellowship Opportunities by Program

U.S. Advocacy and Litigation
Fellows in this program are involved in cases challenging systemic human rights abuses in the United States, including conditions in immigration detention centers, excessive use of force by law enforcement, and discrimination within the justice system. Projects involve pursuing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation to uncover government misconduct, advocating for policy reforms that improve standards of care for detainees, and seeking reparations for abuses faced by marginalized populations such as LGBTQ individuals, Black and Indigenous people, and people with disabilities. This includes engaging in strategic litigation to challenge discriminatory laws and working on policy initiatives to enhance civic engagement and participation for marginalized communities. The program equips them to advocate for justice and systemic change within the U.S. legal framework.
International Advocacy and Litigation
Fellows work with legal experts to investigate and address human rights violations globally. Projects may involve litigation in international forums such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, or United Nations mechanisms, addressing issues like corporate exploitation, enforced disappearances, and torture. Fellows also engage in policy advocacy, drafting legal documents, submitting petitions, and collaborating with international NGOs to strengthen legal frameworks that protect human rights, gaining a comprehensive understanding of international legal systems and contributing directly to global efforts to uphold human rights standards and secure justice for affected communities.


Compass Investors
Fellows engage with private market investors managing nearly $7 trillion in assets, driving social justice initiatives within investment practices. They work on issues like economic and racial equity, the prison industrial complex, and the protection of essential workers. The program emphasizes integrating social justice considerations into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment criteria to generate both financial and societal impact.
Fellow Testimonials
“I was able to see both the forest and the trees, maintaining our bigger informational investigations while also attending to the intricate details of individual cases. This work in particular has helped to guide my future practice as an attorney, giving me insight into where my passions lie in the field of human rights.”
– Amanda Klein, former Dale and James J. Pinto Fellow (U.S. Advocacy & Litigation)
“Over time, the Pinto Fellowship [at RFK Human Rights] has not only provided myself and many others with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in this field, it has also helped establish a network of smart and passionate lawyers striving to achieve justice for some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. This network has been consequential in ushering in new generations of human rights lawyers, myself included.”
– Nina Moraitou-Politzi, former Dale and James J. Pinto Fellow (Int’l Advocacy & Litigation)
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