Associate Human Rights Officer

Volunteering Legal Crisis & Emergency Response

Contract

This is a UNV International Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Youth contracts.

The OHCHR has been following the human rights situation of Venezuelan refugees and other migrants since 2018 through monitoring visits to transit and host countries and the establishment of partnerships with a variety of national and international protection actors. Given the magnitude and complexity of the Venezuelan exodus in Latin America, OHCHR enhanced its action in mid-2020 by starting a dedicated Regional Project on the Human Rights of Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela. Currently, 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled their homeland, out of which about 6.5 million remain in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

The Project currently has ten members deployed in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Panama. It aims to address gaps in the protection of the human rights of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. The Project closely coordinates with OHCHR field presences, supporting and expanding their work on migration. It also engages with the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) and other inter-agency platforms to mainstream human rights and the centrality of protection within humanitarian action. The team conducts monitoring missions, including cross-border deployments and joint deployments with other UN agencies and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and provides technical assistance to State entities, civil society and NHRIs.

Of particular note, is the involvement of the UN Volunteers as a distinctive feature of the Project. Currently, 8 out of 10 staff members are international United Nations Volunteers. UN Volunteers have been the Project's building blocks. This strategic choice to deploy the team on UN Volunteers has proven very effective. UN Volunteers have contributed significantly to the Project's impact and demonstrated the critical value of volunteerism in the OHCHR's work.

In the framework of the Regional Project on the human rights of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, OHCHR will integrate the UN Volunteer in the inter-agency offices (UN house in Brasilia ).

Under the overall supervision of Project Coordinator and the OHCHR Representative of the Regional Office for South America, and the day-to-day supervision of the Human Rights Advisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Support the gathering of information and report on the human rights situation of refugees and migrants, in particular those from Venezuela, including through contacts with other UN 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 actors in the country of assignment in order to identify human rights abuses and violations affecting refugees and migrants. • Contribute to reports and follow up on cases of human rights violations under the supervision of OHCHR-Brazil. • Support the drafting of legal analysis on human rights issues, particularly on migrants' rights, including from a gender perspective. • Provide technical assistance and follow-up on activities with counterparts and partners. • Assist in other tasks relevant to the position, as required or as assigned by the designated officials of the Project Coordinator.

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Integrity ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Working in Teams

or demonstrated interest in: • International human rights law • Refugee and migration
Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded

Brasilia is located in the country's Midwest region. It was founded in 1960, to serve as the new national capital. Brasília and its metropolitan area were estimated to be Brazil's 3rd most populous city, with 3.055.149 people. Among major Latin American cities, Brasília has the highest GDP per capita. The city has a unique status in Brazil, as it is an administrative division rather than a legal municipality like other cities in Brazil. All three branches of Brazil's federal government are centered in the city: executive, legislative, and judicial. Brasília also hosts 124 foreign embassies. The city's international airport connects it to all other major Brazilian cities and many international destinations and is the third busiest airport in Brazil.

The city is located at the top of the Brazilian highlands in the country's center-western region, at 1,172 m. The Paranoá Lake is a large artificial lake that was built to increase the amount of water available and to maintain the region's humidity. Brasília has a tropical savanna climate with two distinct seasons: a rainy season from October to April and a dry season from May to September. The average temperature is 22ºC, rising to over 30ºC during the hottest period. The hottest month in Brasilia is September and the coolest month is July. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil.

Brasilia is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services.

The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide. Rent for small one-bedroom apartments range from 200 USD (unfurnished) to 600 USD (furnished) per month. UN Volunteers are also encouraged to share accommodation.

The UNV Field Unit can assist in booking temporary accommodation for the first nights at UN Volunteer expenses, which can be extended or not at UN Volunteer discretion until getting permanent accommodation.

Travelers are advised to carry a supply of the necessary prescription medications. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and evidence of yellow fever vaccine is required (at least ten days before the trip to the area) as well as COVID -19. Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever are transmitted by the same mosquito, Aedes Aegypti. Preventive measures are key. The mosquito feeds mainly at dusk and dawn, indoors, in shaded areas or when the weather is cloudy. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellents, place windows with screens, keep residences cool with air conditioning and use mosquito nets. The currency used in Brazil is called Real (BRL). In May 2024, the average exchange rate is 1 USD = 5 BRL. Many hotels, restaurants and businesses in Brazil accept the main international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.). It is also possible to withdraw cash from automatic telling machines found in all the major cities. To enter Brazil, a valid passport is required. Nationals of other countries may be required an entry visa or long stay visa. They should contact the closest Brazilian representation. For all international travel to Brazil, security clearance must be requested a minimum of 7 days prior to travel.

The UN Volunteer will receive a monthly living allowance and other benefits, including medical and life insurance. Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), and Deployment / Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

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Added 6 days ago - Updated 9 hours ago - Source: unv.org