La Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas) es la principal entidad de las Naciones Unidas en derechos humanos. Representamos el compromiso del mundo para la promoción y protección del conjunto total de derechos humanos y libertades establecidos en la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos.

La Alta Comisionada y la Oficina desempeñan una función singular para:

- Promocionar y proteger todos los derechos humanos: Nos pronunciamos objetivamente frente a las violaciones de derechos humanos y ayudamos a elaborar las normas que se emplean para evaluar el progreso en materia de derechos humanos en el mundo.

- Ayudar a empoderar a las personas: Nuestras actividades de investigación, educación y promoción contribuyen a una mayor concienciación y compromiso por parte de la comunidad internacional y del público sobre las cuestiones de derechos humanos. Esto significa que miles de personas de todas las regiones del mundo son empoderadas para reclamar sus derechos.

- Ayudar a los gobiernos: Con nuestras presencias sobre el terreno, ayudamos a evitar abusos y contribuimos a mitigar las situaciones que pueden desembocar en un conflicto. Nuestra supervisión y análisis alimentan la toma de decisiones sensibles y la programación del desarrollo. También ofrecemos desarrollo de capacidades y asesoramiento jurídico a miles de personas, apoyando el desarrollo y la promulgación sensata de leyes y políticas en todo el mundo.

- Formular una perspectiva de derechos humanos en todos los programas de las Naciones Unidas: Integramos los derechos humanos en todos los programas de las Naciones Unidas para asegurar que la paz y la seguridad, el desarrollo y los derechos humanos —los tres pilares del sistema de las Naciones Unidas— estén interconectados y se refuercen mutuamente.

OHCHR-Colombia was established, upon request of the Commission on Human Rights and the initiative of the Government of Colombia, on 29 November 1996 by an Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, (E/CN.4/1997/11). OHCHR has been present in Colombia since 1997. OHCHR-Colombia operates from the capital city, Bogotá, and five offices across the country. It implements a comprehensive strategy that includes:1) monitoring of the human rights situation with a view to advising authorities in formulating and implementing policies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights, also in the context of violence, including through the presentation of annual reports on the human rights situation in Colombia to the Human Rights Council; 2) cooperation and technical assistance and advice to the Government to promote respect and observance of human rights and international humanitarian law in Colombia; 3) provision of technical assistance and advice to civil society and non-governmental human rights organizations and individuals, and 4) promotion of human rights to the general public and dissemination of information on international human rights and humanitarian law standards.

Within the framework of its work on the human rights of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, OHCHR will integrate the UN Volunteer into its Country Office in Colombia. The UN Volunteer will be based in Cúcuta and may undertake missions to other locations in the country, as required. This presence will contribute to enhancing the visibility of OHCHR’s work and will support strengthened documentation and analysis of human rights situations, including from a gender perspective, with a view to preventing and addressing human rights violations affecting migrants during their journeys and at border areas.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Coordinator of the field presence and the overall coordination of the OHCHR Representative, the UN Volunteer contributes to the following tasks:

• Collect information and report on the human rights situation of refugees and migrants, particularly those from Venezuela, including through engagement with other United Nations actors, international NGOs, State authorities, public institutions, and civil society;
• Participate in meetings of inter-agency coordination mechanisms (R4V) at the national level and assist in formulating proposals and recommendations to promote a human rights-based approach to migration;
• Conduct interviews with victims and key local stakeholders in the duty station in order to identify abuses and human rights violations, with a special focus on the impact on refugees and migrants;
• Draft reports and follow up on cases of human rights violations under the supervision of the OHCHR Office in Colombia;
• Carry out legal analysis on human rights issues, particularly on the rights of migrants, including from a gender perspective;
• Provide technical assistance and follow-up to activities with counterparts and partners;
• Assist with other tasks relevant to the position, as required or assigned by designated officers of the OHCHR Office in Colombia.
• Integrating gender and ethnic perspectives, with specific attention to issues related to women and girls, including conflict related sexual violence, within all assigned human rights activities;
• Help with occasional basic administrative tasks when needed;
• Perform 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.