Legal Policy Office-Internship [Temporary]

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

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 within the Executive Direction and Management Branch (EDMB) which is responsible for core administrative, programming, coordination and outreach functions, including in relation to civil society. This internship will be situated within the Legal Policy Office (LPO) which is headed by the Senior Legal Policy Adviser and responsible for providing legal policy advice to the High Commissioner and OHCHR.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the intern will be under the general direction and supervision of the Senior Legal Policy Adviser. This internship is offered for an initial period of two (2) months, with a possibility of extension up to a total period of six (6) months, with commencement ranging from December 2017 to November 2018.

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, specific responsibilities will depend on the individual's background and duties may include but are not limited to: Assisting in drafting, preparing and reviewing/editing legal documents, studies, comparative studies, briefing notes, reports, correspondence, or other material; Assisting in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international law issues; Conducting extensive legal research and analysis on complex and/or novel issues of Public International Law, to include International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law; Attending and summarizing conferences and meetings; Helping service conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of participants, and meeting reports; and Performing other related duties as requested by the Senior Legal Policy Adviser.

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, including legal analysis, research and writing or related area.

Applicants are not required to have professional working experience for participation in the Programme though any academic and/or practical experience in in the field of International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and/or International Human Rights Law is desirable.

Applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications; have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter and; have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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 another United Nations official language - Arabic, Chinese, Russian 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 indicate 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, AS 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.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE 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.