Specialist in Human Rights and environment

Details

Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and leads the organization's activities to promote and protect human rights around the world. It is headed by the figure of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Chief Human Rights Officer, who is appointed by the Secretary-General. The OHCHR has presences in more than 60 countries, fulfilling its mandate (established by General Assembly resolution 48/141 of December 20, 1993) to support the promotion and protection of all universally low human rights. The Office's mandate includes support for the work of international human rights mechanisms. Based in Santiago, Chile, the OHCHR Regional Office for South America has the role of supporting States, civil society, intergovernmental organizations and the United Nations system in the promotion and protection of human rights in nine countries of the region : Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. To this end, the OHCHR Regional Office for South America has human rights advisers who work in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices in eight of the countries under its mandate.

Context

OHCHR has designed the project "Strengthening of the regional approach for the protection of specific human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean" which will begin to be implemented in 2023. One of the three pillars of this project corresponds to the promotion of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment that, in general, seeks to contribute to environmental and climate policies and plans that increasingly respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, so that people affected by environmental crises can access information, decision-making, public participation and justice in environmental matters. The presence of the UN Volunteer will allow the implementation of this project in a coordinated manner between the different OHCHR presences in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Task description

Within the framework of the delegated authority and under the supervision of the OHCHR Regional Office for South America of the coordinator of goal 3 of the project "Strengthening of the regional approach for the protection of specific human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean”, the UN Volunteer will carry out the following tasks: • Support the activities on the environment, climate change, and human rights organized by the Office in implementation of the regional project on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. • Investigate, review, and analyze information on the environment, climate change and human rights. • Strengthen the regional focus in Latin America and the Caribbean on the environment, climate change and human rights through the development of appropriate tools and the organization of training activities. • Assist in the design and implementation of capacity building activities. • Participate in working meetings and liaise with relevant counterparts on human rights and environmental issues. • Contribute to the development of strategic institutional associations and joint activities in the field of human rights, the environment and climate change. • Review and update information about events related to the environment, climate change, biodiversity, and human rights within the United Nations system and the Inter-American system, as well as other regional actors. • Prepare and contribute to statements, speeches and reports on the issue of human rights, the environment and climate change, and • Perform other related functions as required. In addition to the above, UN Volunteers are urged to integrate into the UNV program mandate within the framework of their assignment and promote volunteer action through integration in communities in the development of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate part of their working time to one of the following recommended 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; - Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • 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. Expected results: As an active member of the OHCHR Regional Office for South America team, efficient, timely, attentive, client-friendly and quality support will be provided to OHCHR, the Office and its beneficiaries in fulfilling their functions, including: • Activities to strengthen capacities in the area of human rights and the environment. • Reports and monitoring and analysis documents prepared on the situation of human rights, the environment, climate change and biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. • Information compiled, analyzed and communicated as needed by OHCHR and the project "Strengthening of the regional approach for the protection of specific human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean". • Strengthened networks and alliances with key actors. • The perspective of age, gender and diversity is applied in a systematic, integrated, and documented way in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final balance on the achievements achieved through volunteering for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the activities in which you have participated, and the capacities developed.