The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat department responsible for strengthening international human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality and countering discrimination; combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law; integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere; widening the democratic space; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity.
This announcement broadcasts internship opportunities located in the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division (HRCTMD). The Division supports the human rights treaty bodies that monitor the implementation of the international human rights treaties. Specifically, these internships will be situated within the Universal Periodic Review Branch (UPRB).
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all United Nations Member States. It is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their respective countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed. Created through the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251 that established the Human Rights Council itself, the UPR is a cooperative process which by the end of 2016 has twice reviewed the human rights records of all 193 United Nations Member States. Further, the UPR is one of the key features of the Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists: its ultimate aim is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under overall supervision of the Chief of Branch, the intern reports to Human Rights Officer within the area of assignment and shall perform a number of different tasks such as research and analysis of human rights documentation and drafting of summaries, during and beyond the sessions of the UPR Working Group (WG). This internship is normally offered for an initial period of three (3) months, with the possibility of extension up to a total period of six (6) months, beginning [See above “Entry-on-duty date”] APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO INDICATE THEIR PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY IN THE COVER-LETTER OF THE PERSONAL HISTORY PROFILE (PHP) .
The intern shall support OHCHR in fulfilling its mission: to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.
In general, daily Universal Periodic Review Branch responsibilities will depend on the individual's background and duties may include but are not limited to Assisting staff members in the servicing of countries’ reviews; Collecting and analysing written material and oral statements; Assisting in translating statements; Assisting in the drafting of small sections of the WG report under the supervision of responsible staff members; Providing the Chief of Branch with assistance in the preparation of daily notes; and Taking care of statistical figures and help in podium management.
When the UPR WG is not in session, interns may also be requested: Assist staff members in the preparation of pre-session documents, including research and analysis of human rights information and trends; Help in the indexing of the UPR WG recommendations under the supervision of relevant staff members; Help in the preparation and implementation of follow-up activities; Perform substantive research into specific areas of the UPR’s work; Assist staff members in the finalization of documents and activities related to the most recent WG session; Assist in the preparation and revision of training material; Upon request by the Chief of Branch, provide assistance in the accomplishment of any other task relevant to the UPR Branch activities such as organization of and/or participation in meetings, panels et cetera; and Upon request by the Chief of Branch, temporarily assist other branches in the accomplishment of a specific activities.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements, specifically:
-Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher degree);
-Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree);
-If having already obtained university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation from an academic programme.
Applicants who are unable to commence the internship within a one-year period from actual date of graduation will not be accepted. The University degree must be in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English or French is required and knowledge of the other is an asset. Knowledge of Arabic and/ or Spanish would be an advantage.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for an informal interview during the review of their application. Incomplete Personal History Profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. For this reason it is crucial that the cover letter:
-Specify area of interest and dates of availability;
-Explain why you are suited for this OHCHR internship assignment;
-Note the title and date of recently earned academic degree or the scheduled graduation date for study programme currently underway; and
-Indicate information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient.
IN YOUR PHP, BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL PAST EMPLOYMENT, IF APPLICABLE, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE - ACADEMIC OR OTHERWISE - AND THREE REFERENCES. IN ADDITION, APPLICANTS SHOULD INDICATE THEIR SPECIALIZATION AND/ OR AREAS OF INTEREST - IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE - AS THIS WILL ENHANCE THE VALUE OF THE INTERNSHIP FOR BOTH THE INTERN AND THE ORGANIZATION. DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, ONLY CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN SHORT-LISTED WILL BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
In line with the United Nations Internship programme, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights international internship provides a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the United Nations through assignment to Secretariat entities. The Programme endeavors to attract qualified students, offering them an opportunity to enrichen their educational experience through exposure to the work of the Organization. Equally, it provides the Office with the assistance of students specialized in various professional fields. Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies, expertise and/or skills.
A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations Secretariat. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this advertisement, “child” means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (e.g. stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member’s spouse (e.g. son- or daughter-in-law). “Sibling” includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child.
The internship is an unpaid (full-time) opportunity and the intern must adhere to the established weekly working hours of the duty station where the assignment is located, i.e. - Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., including one hour for lunch, at the United Nations Office in Geneva. Qualified individuals may apply directly to this and other opportunities with the United Nations Secretariat at: https://careers.un.org. For more information on the United Nations Secretariat Internship programme, please visit: https://www.unog.ch
En vertu du paragraphe 3 de l'Article 101 de la Charte des Nations Unies, la considération dominante dans le recrutement du personnel doit être la nécessité d'assurer à l'Organisation les services de personnes possédant les plus hautes qualités de travail, de compétence et d'intégrité, notamment mais non exclusivement s’agissant du respect du droit international des droits de l’homme et du droit international humanitaire. Les candidats pourront faire l’objet d’une présélection sur la base de ces critères, notamment mais non exclusivement dans le but de vérifier s’ils ont commis ou sont soupçonnés d’avoir commis des infractions pénales ou des violations du droit international des droits de l’homme ou du droit international humanitaire.
Sera dûment prise en considération l'importance d'un recrutement effectué sur une base géographique aussi large que possible. Aucune restriction ne sera imposée par l'Organisation à l'accès des hommes et des femmes, dans des conditions égales, à toutes les fonctions, dans ses organes principaux et subsidiaires. Le Secrétariat de l'Organisation des Nations Unies est un espace non-fumeurs.
Les candidats sont invités à respecter scrupuleusement toutes les instructions disponibles sur la plateforme de recrutement en ligne Inspira. Pour des informations plus détaillées, ils peuvent consulter le Guide rapide « Procédure de dépôt de candidature » et le manuel d'instructions pour le candidat (en anglais seulement), en cliquant sur le lien hypertexte « Manuels » sur le côté supérieur droit de la page d'accueil de leur compte Inspira.
Les candidatures feront l'objet d'une évaluation et d'un examen préalables sur la base des informations soumises conformément aux critères d'évaluation de l'avis de vacance de poste et aux dispositions législatives internes applicables de l'Organisation des Nations Unies, notamment la Charte des Nations Unies, les résolutions de l'Assemblée générale, le Statut et le Règlement du personnel, les textes administratives et les directives. Les candidats doivent fournir des informations exhaustives et précises relatives à leur qualification, notamment mais non exclusivement, à leur formation, leur expérience professionnelle et leurs compétences linguistiques, conformément aux instructions fournies sur la plateforme Inspira. Les candidats seront exclus de la procédure d'examen s'il n'est pas démontré dans leur candidature qu'ils répondent à tous les critères d'évaluation de l'avis de vacance de poste et aux dispositions législatives internes applicables de l'Organisation. Ils sont tenus de fournir des informations complètes et précises. Une fois la candidature envoyée, aucune modification, suppression ou révision, ni aucun ajout ou changement ne pourra être fait. Il sera procédé à une vérification des références des candidats faisant l'objet d'une attention particulière pour s'assurer de l'exactitude des renseignements qu’ils ont fournis dans leur candidature.
Les avis de vacance de postes publiés sur le Portail des carrières sont retirés à minuit (heure de New York), le jour de la date limite de dépôt des candidatures.
L’ONU NE PERÇOIT DE FRAIS À AUCUN STADE DU RECRUTEMENT (DÉPÔT OU TRAITEMENT DE LA CANDIDATURE, ENTRETIEN, FORMATION, ETC.), ET ELLE NE DEMANDE AUCUNE INFORMATION BANCAIRE.