This assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months, renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, upon further approval by the supervisor, with an initial commencement date ranging/starting between May 2024 and October 2024.Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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. Created in 2006 through the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch conducts policy oriented research and analysis in the areas of rule of law, equality and non-discrimination; develops manuals and guidance, information and communication tools on thematic issues, including mainstreaming of human rights and their gender dimensions internally and in inter-agency processes; provides technical support and assistance to strengthening national capacities of all stakeholders, including rights-holders; and provides expert and legal advice and support in the areas of rule of law, equality and non-discrimination, clearance to ensure conformity of OHCHR agreements with the United Nations rules, procedures and practices. The Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch comprises four entities, specifically: i) the Rule of Law and Democracy Section (ROLDS), which works to develop concepts and operational strategies to enhance democracy and provide guidance and support to democratic institutions through technical cooperation activities and partnerships with the relevant parts of the United Nations, notably the United Nations Democracy Fund, the Department of Political Affairs and the United Nations Working Group on Democracy, including legal and expert advice for OHCHR field operations and headquarters on relevant issues such as respect for participatory rights in the context of free and fair elections, draft legislation and training activities; ii) the Women's Human Rights and Gender Section (WHRGS), which works to protect and promote women's human rights by highlighting laws and policies that prohibit women from equal access to resources (land, property, and housing), economic and social practices that render women vulnerable to trafficking, including genderbased violence and other impediments to their exercising full sexual and reproductive health rights, in concert with Women human rights defenders that strive to enhance the crucial role women play peace and security and concomitant risks they face in conflict situations; iii) the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section (ARDS), which develops and supports the implementation of national action plans, policies and programmes to promote equality and to counter racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including through the elaboration of relevant tools and the creation of a database on normative and practical means to address these phenomena; and iv) the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section (IPMS), which works to improve human rights protection for indigenous peoples and minorities at the international and national levels through strategies such as strengthening relevant legislation, policies and practices, as well as through undertaking capacity building activities, while promoting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other key human rights standards. For more information on strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations visit: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/ManagementPlan/Pages/lawaccountability. aspx Responsibilities: Under the overall direction of the Chief of the Branch and the general guidance of the respective Chief of Section, the intern reports to the Human Rights Officer in the assigned work unit. 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. Daily responsibilities of Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination human rights intern will depend on activities being carried-out within the assigned work and the individual's background. Duties may include but are not limited to undertaking research, conducting analyses, assisting with drafting of reports, guidance materials, notes and publications on core thematic and other key issues in the assigned area and, in particular, the intern may: provide substantive and logistical assistance to the organization of expert group meetings, workshops, consultations, seminars, panels, side events at the Human Rights Council (HRC) on the subjects related to respective Section of assignment; contribute to the development of on-line and face-to-face training material on the subjects mentioned above, depending on the Section; liaise with OHCHR field officers on the thematic areas relevant to the respective Section and participate in inter-agency meetings, meetings with permanent missions and with human rights activists; assist with the promotion of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights to Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Indigenous Peoples (UNVFIP), the Minorities Fellowship Programme (MFP) and the Indigenous Fellowship Programme (IFP); follow-up on mechanisms of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism (WCAR), Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related intolerance as well as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Working Group of Experts on People of African descent and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards; support in the organization of the annual Fellowship Programme for people of African descent and management of the Anti-Discrimination Database; and perform other related duties requested by supervisor, as appropriate.Qualifications/special skillsTo qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, applicants must, at the time of submission, be a graduate or enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master's degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or, be a graduate or enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree) preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field, OR have graduated with a university degree as defined above AND, if selected, must commence the internship on the date specified in the Acceptance letter. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. PROFESSIONALISM: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. 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.LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English or French is required, knowledge of the other is an asset. Knowledge of another United Nations official language would be an advantage (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).Additional InformationAssessment Incomplete applications/personal history profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch hiring managers will directly contact short-listed applicants for an interview. For this reason, in the application cover letter it is important that you: -Specify your general interest in OHCHR, including in the human rights issues, including their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions and, particularly in the work of the Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch; -Indicate the scheduled graduation for university study currently underway or more or actual graduation date for recently obtained degree; -Indicate information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient; -Specify your period of availability and earliest commencement date; and -Provide three references in support of submission.Intern Specific textInterns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.
