Associate in Human Rights

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response Legal

Overview

Support monitoring and reporting on human rights of refugees and migrants.

You have:

• At least two (2) years of experience directly related to human rights
• Experience in human rights monitoring, analysis and reporting is required.
• Excellent knowledge of international human rights instruments and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights is required.
• Previous experience working on the human rights situation of migrants is an asset.
• Experience working on gender-based violence is desirable.
• Experience in women rights and/or collective rights is desirable.
• Experience working with United Nations agencies, humanitarian actors, and justice sector actors in field settings is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others);
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
• Have affinity with or interest in human rights and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Contract

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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.

• Accountability • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Adaptability and flexibility • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Communication skills • Working in Teams • Commitment and Motivation

• At least two (2) years of experience directly related to human rights • Experience in human rights monitoring, analysis and reporting is required. • Excellent knowledge of international human rights instruments and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights is required. • Previous experience working on the human rights situation of migrants is an asset; • Experience working on gender-based violence is desirable. • Experience in women rights and/or collective rights is desirable. • Experience working with United Nations agencies, humanitarian actors, and justice sector actors in field settings is an asset. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in human rights and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Colombia is a large country (1,141,748 km2); its population stands at around 52 million. Cúcuta, the capital of the department of Norte de Santander in northeastern Colombia, is located on the border with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. According to official projections from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), the municipality of San José de Cúcuta has an estimated population of approximately 812,000 inhabitants in 2024.

The department of Norte de Santander shares a physical border with Venezuela, and Cúcuta is a major transit point for people moving through or staying in the region, including both the local Colombian population and those arriving from Venezuela. This context creates a dynamic environment that requires high cultural sensitivity, flexibility, and a strong commitment to living and working in challenging conditions.

The city is served by Camilo Daza International Airport (IATA: CUC), which is one of the main points of air access to northeastern Colombia. In 2023, the airport handled more than 1.5 million passengers and over 17,000 aircraft operations, offering both domestic flights and connections to other major Colombian cities.

Cúcuta also has a network of public and private health services that provide emergency care and specialized medical attention. The health system in the city and the wider department is administered by the Municipal Institute of Health (IMSALUD) and the Departmental Health Authority and includes several state hospitals and private clinics. Additionally, regional initiatives such as coordinated health response efforts have been implemented to improve access to healthcare for both local residents and mobile populations, including migrants.

The city’s border context creates a dynamic environment that requires high cultural sensitivity and adaptability. Living and working comfortably and affordably in Cúcuta may require flexibility and a strong commitment, including the ability and willingness to operate in challenging conditions.

Upon arrival, all UN Volunteers receive a security briefing from the UNDP security office, which covers the security environment of the duty station, key security measures to be followed, and support available to UNVs in securing appropriate living quarters.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 months ago - Updated 3 months ago - Source: unv.org