Associate Human Rights Officer

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.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. OHCHR provides assistance in the form of technical expertise and capacity-development in order to support the implementation of international human rights standards on the ground. It assists governments, which bear the primary responsibility for the protection of human rights, to fulfil their obligations and supports individuals to claim their rights. OHCHR has a staff of some 1300 people and its headquarters are in Geneva, as well as an office in New York. It has field presences that comprise regional and country/stand-alone offices. Furthermore, UN Human Rights supports the human rights components of UN peace missions or political offices and deploys human rights advisers to work with the United Nations Country teams.

This Youth UNV position is based in OHCHR's Geneva headquarters in the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section. The Youth UNV will contribute to providing technical assistance and developing guidance to local governments on human rights. Local governments, at the regional, provincial, and municipal levels, hold a pivotal role in realizing human rights as states’ international human rights obligations extend to all levels of government. The implementation of human rights at the local level is also integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is grounded in international human rights law.

Candidates aged 18-26 are strongly encouraged to apply.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of a Human Rights Officer, the Associate Human Rights Officer will:

• Assists in providing technical assistance and developing guidance and tools on the implementation of human rights at the local level, particularly economic, social and cultural rights.
• Supports in organizing trainings to build the capacities of local governments to realize human rights.
• Supports in strengthening knowledge sharing between local governments on human rights.
• Supports in mainstreaming human rights and operationalizing the Leave No One Behind commitment in SDG implementation at the local level.
• Contributes to written reports for internal and external audiences on the work of the Office.
• Contributes to the integration of a gender perspective in human rights activities and analysis related to economic, social and cultural rights.
• Contributes to a comprehensive work plan for the overall Office programme (annual work plan, mid-year and end of year reviews, annual reports to the Human Rights Council, etc.).
• Maintains positive synergies with other units of the Office on cross-cutting issues, so as to ensure an integrated and coherent programme
• Assists in any other activities that arise or are proposed by the immediate supervisor or Chief of Section.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.