Legal and Monitoring Volunteer

Details

Mission and objectives

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the lead UN entity on human rights. In 1993, the General Assembly entrusted both the High Commissioner for Human Rights and OHCHR with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Over the course of subsequent decades, with investment by Member States, OHCHR has developed unique competencies for the protection and advance of human rights; competencies that bridge the humanitarian, peace and development sectors. OHCHR provides technical expertise and capacity-development, to support the implementa-tion of international human rights standards on the ground. It assists governments, which bear primary responsibility for the protection of human rights, to fulfil their obligations, supports individuals to claim their rights and speaks out objectively on human rights viola-tions. OHCHR has built global credibility in being a principled advocate for international human rights standards. It represents the leading, authoritative voice on legally binding norms en-shrined in international human rights treaties including in situations of conflict and insecuri-ty. OHCHR is uniquely placed in working closely with Governments, the civil society, the UN family and other stakeholders to advance the human rights agenda. Our strength lies in our unique capability to monitor, critically analyse and report on human rights abuses/violations.

Context

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has established its Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) in Bishkek in 2008. ROCA works to assist governments, national hu-man rights institutions, civil society and the international community in the region to promote and protect human rights.

Task description

Under the supervision of the OHCHR Regional Representative for Central Asia, the National UN Volunteer/Legal and Monitoring Specialist (hereinafter: NUNV) will be responsible for conducting legal analysis (including but not limited to of criminal justice legal provisions), monitoring of emblematic human rights cases (including but not limited through trial observation, liaison with civil society partners, lawyers, national human rights institutions), support in dealing with incoming individual complaints, and media monitoring (including social media). The NUNV may also be required to assist in the implementation of ROCA programmes and projects. The NUNV is guided by and promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach. The NUNV's delegated tasks include: • Monitoring and reporting on relevant human rights issues, including their impact on the human rights situation in the region, in person and through media monitoring (including social media). • Human rights monitoring, in person and/or by remote, including of emblematic human rights cases, in close coordination with national human rights institutions, civil society partners, lawyers, other stakeholders. • Dealing with incoming individual complaints, including but not limited to by maintaining a database, drafting replies, meeting with applicants as delegated. • Legal analysis, including of the implementation of criminal justice provisions. • Assisting in planning, designing and implementing capacity-building and other activities in the region; • Perform other 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. Results/expected outputs: Research and analysis on human rights issues, including through regular reporting, as well as legal analysis upon request. Well organized and maintained human rights database, and coherent, efficient, and traceable filing of incoming complaints and recommendations for action. Planned, designed and implemented capacity building activities. A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.